23rd Sunday Ordinary Time – Year A

Fr, Mark Gatto

Preached: September 6, 2026

When you see the news today, what are some of the events that stand out for you? As I see the news, a few words stand out for me. War, Power, Division.

There is a culture of war with everyone spending even more money on weapons and using war as a solution to problems, there is a culture of power where those who are bigger, stronger, wealthier use that power to dominate and control others, there is a culture of division where those who are different are seen as “other” to be avoided or rejected.

In the face of this news it is possible for us to become discouraged. But, as Christians and as the Catholic Church we have an important mission in this world in the face of these realities. We are called to serve the world, not be served by the world. So, what is the response needed by the Catholic Church and by we who are Christians?

We need to offer the world a different vision, we need to respond with a counter-cultural vision in the way we live

Instead of war, we need to offer a vision of peace. We need to be people of peace in our relationships, including with our so-called enemies. We need to reject a way of violence, of striking out at others.

Instead of power used to dominate others, we need to offer a vision of the Common Good. We need to be people of humble service, especially with those most in need. We need to reject using power over others and use our power for others.

Instead of division, we need to offer a vision of communion and unity. We need to be people who strive for unity, to be people who see others as brothers and sisters. We need to reject a way that sees those who are different as “others” to be rejected or avoided.

Each of the Scripture readings we heard today give us some direction for how we as Christians and as the Church need to respond in this moment.

In the first reading, through the Prophet Ezekiel, God calls us to warn the wicked. We need to warn those who are following a wicked way so that they have the opportunity to turn from their ways. St. Catherine was known for her ability to convince even the worst sinners to change their ways and return to the path of salvation in Jesus.

In our Gospel, we see a method for dealing with conflicts within the church itself. We cannot offer a vision of peace if we cannot deal with conflicts among ourselves in a good way. So, the church needs to be united, our parish needs to be united, and our families as the domestic church need to work to be in harmony and unity. We can only work for peace if we are living in peace.

In our reading from St. Paul, he reminds us that we are to “love your neighbour as yourself.” We see a world in which people say, I have to take care of myself, we need to put our group first, before even thinking of others. But, the gospel is clear that we need to care for our neighbour as though we are caring for ourselves.

Finally, in the Responsorial Psalm we hear the call to listen to the voice of God, not to harden our hearts. In the face of all the news today, often showing war, abuse of power, division, we need to listen to a different voice, the voice of God. Do not listen to the voice of social media, to the voice of influencers, to the voice of political leaders promoting violence and division. We are to be listening to the voice of God.

The Catholic Church is really important and needed in our world today. As we keep the memory of God alive, as we live as the body of Christ so that people are able to encounter Jesus today, as we preach the Kingdom of God, we are called to offer a very different vision from that which is seen in our world.

I encourage you to pay attention to the speeches, homilies, writings of Pope Leo. He is offering a counter-cultural vision to our world today. He is proclaiming the Kingdom of God in a way that humanity needs so badly. Be the best Catholic you can be, not just for yourself, but for the sake of humanity, for the sake of our world.

When we see the news today, often filled with war, with power being used to dominate others, with division, we are not to become discouraged. Rather, listen to the voice of God calling us to present a different vision. Rather than a culture of war, a culture of peace. Rather than power over others, power for the sake of the common good. Rather than division, a vision of the possibility for communion, for unity.

Our world needs the Catholic Church, needs us Christians, to offer the vision of God.