Homily for the Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Some of the words and images Jesus uses in this Gospel are graphic, intimidating, and frightening. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the choices they make every day of their lives will determine their future. Their choices will affect their happiness and peace in this world and their choices will determine what will happen after they die.

Today is a good day for us to stop and reflect on the choices we are making in our lives. Do my choices only involve what is good for me or am I concerned about the people in my life and in our world? My daily choices have an impact on the life I am living. My choices determine my peace, my happiness, and, to a degree, my physical and mental health. Despite knowing this, I don’t often think about the choices I make each day.

This evening, sit down and reflect on your day. What were the choices you made today? Did you attend to the needs of others or were you completely self-focused? What were the gifts you received today? Be thankful for these gifts. Then ask yourself: What do I want to do differently when the new day dawns? Each new day is a gift. Cherish this gift and the opportunity to begin again.