Homeless Catholic Community

Research shows that 84% of the world’s population identifies with some religious group. Eighty percent of those believe in a deity or a higher power — 2.4 billion are Christian, 1.9 billion are Muslim, 1.2 billion believe in Hinduism, 500 million are Buddhists, and 16 million follow Judaism, with the rest comprising various smaller religious sects. The remaining people of the world are either atheists or agnostics, who represent a very small minority of the world’s entire population.

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Norm McGraw’s reflections: He said to them, “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

What’s with the laws, precepts, and ordinances?

Hearing the Word and acting on the Word aligns us with the Word

By Steve Hall

Image by radek drbohlav

Click here to read Steve Hall’s reflection from September 27, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

Some laws are prescriptive; some are proscriptive. Some we claim are universal; others are not. Some are based on observation; others socially determined; and still others we consider inherent in the essence of things. What then, do we do with the Commands, laws, precepts, and ordinances referred to in today’s readings?

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Steve Hall’s reflections: For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:9)

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You have been added to a list of individuals who attend the Wednesday Morning Prayer Group in Woodland Park, Colorado, as well as friends and writers who contribute reflections to the Homeless Catholic website and ministry, or those who wish to receive copies of our presentations from any of our reflection authors. The Homeless Catholic website includes reflections from John Pearring, Steve Hall, Steve Leininger, Lou Occhi, Tim Trainor, Norm McGraw, Ron Bruni, Steve Hessman, John Silvia, and Margit McCarthy.

Be part of God’s family

Norman Joseph McGraw — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:50:57 GMT

By Norm McGraw

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Luke 8:19-21

In every reflection I have written on Bible readings, I start with the idea that God’s word is for everyone, even those who don’t believe. The Almighty has an advantage here. According to research, 84% of the world’s population identifies with some religious group. Eighty percent of those believe in a deity or a higher power.

Of those, 2.4 billion are Christian, 1.9 billion are Muslim, 1.2 billion believe in Hinduism, 500 million are Buddhists, and 16 million follow Judaism, with the rest comprising various smaller religious sects that believe in some form of higher spiritual power or reality. The remaining people of the world are either atheists or agnostics, who represent a very small minority of the world’s entire population.

By Ega Morgan

With this week’s reflection in mind, I asked three long-term friends of mine — one an agnostic, another a Buddhist, and a third raised by a Jewish father and a Catholic mother — what they thought about one or more of the readings from Tuesday’s Mass for September 22nd.

The first reading is from the 21st chapter of Proverbs. The book is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon and his students. Verses 1-6, 10-13 focus on moral behavior, such as: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice,” “Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the tillage of the wicked is sin,” and “The plans of the diligent are sure to profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.”

My agnostic friend interpreted the text as good and basic rules for living that originated long before Scripture was written. My Buddhist friend said he could align with the basic tenets of Proverbs that address the poor and those who are empty vessels of life. He remarked that Buddhism deals with enlightenment and spreading peace and love.

My friend with Jewish and Catholic heritage went further, saying the rules come from God, whom we rely on for strength when we accept His love and guidance.

God’s steady hand in our lives is detailed in the responsorial psalm (chapter 119, verses 1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44): “Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.”

The third reading, from the 8th chapter of Luke, expounds upon the relationship between Creator and creature. God wants more from us than obedience to his commandments. In fact, He wants a more intimate relationship with us. Luke describes this in verses 19-21. He states that when crowds kept his mother and brothers from joining him, Jesus commented, “My mother and my brothers are those who bear the word of God and act on it.”

My friend with both Jewish and Catholic heritage felt that this reading revealed a commonality in spiritual beliefs between those who accept God in their lives and follow his laws.

To summarize, the three readings reveal how God wishes the relationship between Him and us to develop. Follow common-sense rules, as my agnostic friend would describe them, to have a good life. In fact, some of these rules are aligned with “enlightenment”, as my Buddhist friend would put it. Moreover, as my third friend remarked, recognizing and following God’s commands creates a community between all those who believe.

Jesus’ statement that “My mother and my brothers are those who bear the word of God and act on it” reminds me of the title of that old Sister Sled pop hit out of the ’70s — “We Are Family.”

By recognizing Him and following His law, we accept being part of His family.

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What’s with the laws, precepts, and ordinances?

Stevehall3@hotmail.com — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:50:06 GMT

By Steve Hall

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Luke 8:19-21

Though it may not be obvious, the readings for the day fit together more readily than they do on many other occasions. A single line from each makes the connection clear.

From the first reading: To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

And from the Responsorial Psalm, the refrain: Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

And finally, the Gospel offers this: My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.

Image by radek drbohlav

Consider first the teaching from Proverbs. The ‘right’ and the ‘just’ are intrinsic to God's essence, while sacrifice is a human invention. That distinction alone tells us why the one is more acceptable than the other.

The Psalm response harkens back to the Psalm itself.

Make me understand the way of your precepts
I have set your ordinances before me
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
I will keep your law continually

Then the Gospel reminds us to ‘hear’ and to ‘act.’ This is the same as the message we received in Proverbs.

However, one element in all three can easily be misleading. Commands, laws, precepts, ordinances — all are used as synonyms, meaning essentially the same thing. A thesaurus would offer even more. Consequently, what we call ‘Law’ must regularly be modified. Traffic Law. Civil Law. Criminal Law. Scientific Law. Natural Law. Moral Law. Divine Law. Etc. Etc. Etc.

First we must acknowledge their source, and the character of that source. The text tells us that these ‘laws’ come from God himself. Therefore, they bear His unchanging nature. So, while our understanding of these laws may improve over time, the laws themselves are immutable. The obvious counterpart is that these Laws are not subject to our will, nor can we modify them as we determine. Finally, we note that these laws reflect the very essence of their source—they are the way they are because they correspond to the perfection of the divine.

And so we come to the point where we must consider the last line of the readings for the day.

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Is this a statement of fact? Of feeling? Of poetic expression? Hearing the Word and acting on the Word aligns us with the Word. This is more than an expression. It is the reality of our lives.

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Homeless Catholic Reflections 9/15/26

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:12:45 GMT

See the latest Homeless Catholic reflections

NEW!

Lou Occhi: The Seven Sorrows of Mary

Older Reflections:

John Pearring: You can’t make this stuff up

Steve Hall: What is there about his word?

Steve Leininger: A spirited discussion

Tim Trainor: Birth of the divine’s abode

Norm McGraw: ‘The Lord will make the rain powder’

Ron Bruni: The path from fear to faith

Steve Hessman: Spoiler: The King of Tyre is Satan

Margit McCarthy: Temptation Trials in the Garden

Latest at ilk Publishing:

John Pearring: Homeless Catholic: A father’s testimony

Margit McCarthy: Praying the rosary with your children

John Silvia: Kiss of Betrayal or Kiss of Love

The OMG reflection from Lou Occhi

Inspired by Mass readings from Tuesday, September 15, 2026

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary was a special part of the plan of salvation

By Lou Occhi

Image by fbilhalva

Click here to read Lou Occhi’s reflection from September 16, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

On Sunday morning, Mary Magdalen and some other women came to the tomb; Mary, the mother of Jesus, was not there. Some speculate that Jesus had appeared to her earlier that morning. It is a lovely thought, and certainly, if He were to appear to anyone first, it would be His mom.

More …

Lou Occhi’s reflections: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His name.” (The Magnificat)

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You can read John Pearring’s books — Snarl and A Snarl Theology

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Louis Occhi — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:05:21 GMT

By Lou Occhi

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31
Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5
Luke 2:33-35

I want to begin by making a small disclaimer. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is human just like us. She is not a god. However, she is a perfect creation of God. Our Father in heaven would have wanted a perfect vessel to bring His Son into the world. Remember, when the angel appeared to Mary, he addressed her as “Hail, Full of Grace.” The only way a person can be full of grace is to be free of all sin, including original sin.

Image by fbilhalva

We often hear the stories of Jesus and His Blessed Mother. The stories are usually happy and uplifting. The road from the Annunciation to the crucifixion was not entirely smooth. Today the church recalls the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, my reflection covers her seven sorrows.

The first of Mary’s sorrows is Simeon's prophecy. After eight days, Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus to the temple for the rite of circumcision. Generally, this is a happy occasion for everyone except the baby. Forty days later, Jesus was brought to the temple to be presented to the Father in heaven. In addition to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, the rabbi, Simeon, and Anna were present. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Some visionaries have said that Simeon was Mary’s Rabbi in her youth, and Anna was her teacher.

This could explain how Simeon and Anna knew Mary. When Joseph, Mary, and Jesus entered the temple, Simeon took the child in his arms and said to Mary, “Behold, this child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many may be revealed” (Luke 2:33-35). Anna also spoke of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The second of Mary’s sorrows is their flight into Egypt. Mary and Joseph stayed in Bethlehem after Jesus' birth. The round trip to Nazareth is about 140 miles and would be very difficult for a woman who had just given birth and for the baby. Sometime after the presentation, the Magi visited the Holy Family at a house in Bethlehem and presented them with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In a dream, Joseph is warned that Herod intends to kill the baby, and that they need to flee to Egypt immediately. The timeline is unclear about when the dream occurred. Because Herod declared that every firstborn male child in Bethlehem under two years of age was to be killed, the flight to Egypt had to be within two years after Jesus’ birth. One can only imagine the sorrow Mary and Joseph felt, knowing what was going to happen in Bethlehem and that they could do nothing to stop it. The journey into Egypt was around 600 miles. As I was writing this, it occurred to me that the gifts of the Magi were very useful in funding the move to Egypt.

The third sorrow was losing Jesus for three days. The Holy Family had been in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. One day into their journey back to Nazareth, they discovered Jesus was not with them. They assumed He was with other family members. Anyone who has ever discovered their child is missing goes into instant panic. A friend of mine had a missing young brother.

The family and the neighbors were all outside looking for the child. They had notified the police about the missing child. Your mind automatically begins to worry about a kidnapping or drowning in the local canal. You can only imagine their relief when they discovered he had fallen asleep under one of their beds.

For Mary and Joseph, they were a full day of travel away from where they last saw their son. The anxiety during the trip back to Jerusalem must have been excruciating. God gave Mary and Joseph the task of raising Jesus, and now they had lost Him. As we all know, they finally found Jesus in the Temple debating scripture with others.

The fourth sorrow was Jesus carrying the cross. His mother was watching her brutally beaten son, disfigured, bleeding, and stumbling under the weight of the cross as He walked up the hill to His execution. Mary was with Him throughout His passion. She felt each lash of the Roman whip in her heart. She saw Him beaten and mocked while they drove a crown of thorns onto His scalp.

The fifth sorrow was the crucifixion of her son. Words cannot express what she must have felt as they drove nails into His hands and feet, lifted the cross, and dropped it into a hole in the ground. Despite all that Jesus had suffered, He still spoke to His mother and John. He told John to take Mary as his mother and Mary to take John as her son. Mary and John stayed together as mother and son until Mary’s death. After Jesus had died, a lance was thrust into His side to ensure His death. As Simeon had foretold, Mary felt as though the lance had pierced her own heart.

The sixth sorrow was Jesus taken down from the cross. She now could hold her Son and cry inconsolably. She suffered with Him in all the suffering Jesus endured. We all suffer when we see our children suffering. How much more can anyone suffer than she suffered?

The seventh sorrow: Jesus was laid in the tomb. We know that Mary was at the tomb along with Mary Magdalen and Mary, the mother of James. We do not know where she went after the tomb was sealed. Some speculate that she went to console the apostles. On Sunday morning, Mary Magdalen and some other women came to the tomb; Mary, the mother of Jesus, was not there. Some speculate that Jesus had appeared to her earlier that morning. It is a lovely thought, and certainly, if He was to appear to anyone first, it would be His mom.

The first reading from Corinthians has a line that states, “Some people God has designated in the church to be first…” Micah prophesied the coming of the Messiah in Bethlehem. He then goes on to say, “Therefore he shall give them up until she who has labor pains has brought forth; then the rest of his brethren shall return to the sons of Israel.”

The she in this verse refers to Jesus’ mother giving birth. Mary was a special part of the plan of salvation. Like her, we are also a part of that endeavor. We are all individually a part of the body of Christ. We all have special gifts that play a role in God’s plan. We may not heal people or perform great miracles, but we have friends and family. As men, we are entrusted to lead in practicing our faith and to encourage others to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The responsorial of the psalm says we are the sheep of his flock. What good is a shepherd without sheep, and what happens to the sheep without a shepherd? We, men, need to shepherd those who drift away from their faith. Mary was the apostles' stepmother. When the Spirit of the Lord descended upon the apostles, she was there, consoling them. She could have drifted off into the sunset and mourned the horrible loss of her son, but she didn’t because she still had work to do.

As Jesus was dying on the cross, Jesus told Mary to behold her son. Then He said to John Behold your mother. In doing this, she became the mother figure to all the apostles and disciples. In turn, she became the mother for all humanity. Not only do we have a daddy in Heaven, but we also have a mommy.

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The birth of the divine’s abode

Tim Trainor — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:58:57 GMT

By Tim Trainor

Why do Catholics call Mary the “Untier of Knots”? The Theological answer is: In the 2nd century, the early Church Father Saint Irenaeus of Lyons wrote that what Eve “bound” by her disbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith. Thereby, her obedience to God untangled the “knot” of disobedience created by Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Micah 5:1-4a
Matthew 1:18-23

We usually do not celebrate the birthday of a Saint, but rather their “birth into heaven,” as the anniversary of their death is considered the beginning of their blessed life with God. Nevertheless, there are three exceptions to this Church rule: Jesus the Christ Child, Saint John the Baptist, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. For these three, the Church celebrates both their nativity and the special impact of their coming to earth on that day.

Again, the Church celebrates only three birthdays on its liturgical calendar: the Nativity of Our Lord (December 25), the Nativity of His Forerunner, John the Baptist (June 24), and the Nativity of His Mother on September 8, which we are looking at today. Thus, the Church uniquely honors only these three principal figures as they, working together, are heavily involved in God’s Salvation Plan to undo the results of the fall of Adam and Eve recorded in Genesis.

Image by Arnie Bragg

What are some of the specifics in the birth of Mary that are important and ought to impact the whole Church and us, you may ask (as I did), and are they authoritatively given somewhere? Well, yes. See paragraphs 452-511 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is dotted with Biblical and Church Magisterium-type references. The 3 paragraphs that summarized for me why Mary’s birthday is important dealt with the vital role she played in salvation history.

First, paragraph 489 states: ‘Throughout the Old Covenant the mission of many holy women prepared for the mission of Mary. At the very beginning there was Eve; despite her disobedience, she receives the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living. By virtue of this promise, Sarah conceives a son in spite of her old age. Against all human expectation, God chooses those who were considered powerless and weak to show forth His faithfulness to His promises: to Hannah, the mother of Samuel, then Deborah, and many other women. [But,] Mary “stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him. After a long period of waiting, the times are fulfilled in her [Mary], the exalted Daughter of Sion, and the new plan of salvation is established.’

Next, para 505 states: ‘By His virginal conception, Jesus, the New Adam, ushers in the new birth of children adopted in the Holy Spirit through faith. “How can this be [Mary said]”? (Lk 1:34) Participation in the divine life arises “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn 1:13). The acceptance of this life is virginal because it is entirely the Spirit’s gift to man. The spousal character of the human vocation in relation to God (2 Cor1:12) is fulfilled perfectly (or completely) in Mary’s virginal motherhood.’

And paragraph 511, which reads: ‘The Virgin Mary co-operated through free faith and obedience in human salvation. She uttered her yes “in the name of all human nature” (St. Thomas Aquinas). By her obedience she became the new Eve, mother of the living.’

Mary was conceived and born in the normal way; however, having been justified at her conception (see para. 490, where we read about the Immaculate Conception), rather than in the womb as John the Baptist was (see Luke 1:41), or by Baptism, as we each are, she was born ‘full of grace’ (per Luke 1:28). In this gift of God she grew by her cooperation without sinning to the end of her life.

The Church celebrates Mary’s birthday on September 8. This feast day is exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. The Church makes no claims as to the historical merit of either date. Rather, the dating serves a liturgical purpose: to recall the mysteries associated with Mary, in the same way the nine months on the calendar between the Annunciation and Christmas do.

Moving on, did you know that the Bible contains two (2) different versions of Jesus’ genealogy? Matthew’s, which we saw this morning, but Luke also has another in 3:23-38. Luke starts with Jesus and moves backward in time, tracing His family from Jesus back to Adam and God. He did this to stress Jesus’ divine sonship. Whereas Matthew’s version, discussed below, instead starts with Abraham and proceeds through generations, following family lines to Jesus to stress a linkage to King David.

To fully understand the differences between Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of Jesus Christ’s genealogy, it’s important to understand the history, culture, and context surrounding the decisions these two writers made. Jesus Christ’s descent can also be traced through 2 of David’s family lines.

Matthew’s account was primarily intended for Jewish readers. Scholars believe Matthew therefore focused on legal inheritance, which would also be the line used to trace kings and royalty. As a result, Matthew includes several adoptive names in his list. This approach further underwrites the idea that Jesus Christ was the rightful heir to King David’s throne.

Matthew also includes generations in groups of 14. Hebrew genealogy often left out some generations in favor of symbolic numbers. The same practice is seen in other books of the Bible. In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value. The Hebrew letters of David’s name add up to 14, so the number 14 came to represent David’s line. By including 14 generations from Abraham to David and then 28 generations from David to Jesus, Matthew taught his Jewish audience that Christ was David’s legal descendant, thus “proving” that He was the son of David prophesied in the Old Testament, as in our first reading this morning from the book of the Prophet Micah.

Luke took a different approach. He wrote a story for a wider audience, including Gentiles and Jews alike. He started his story off with how Christ was born, and only then, after three chapters of background and lastly relating His baptism in the Jordan River and the descent of the Holy Spirit, does he begin to give us Jesus’ genealogy. He starts off with Christ himself and works his way back not only to David and Abraham, but to Adam and God. Luke’s claim to the general populace was that Jesus is the Son of God, miraculously here as a Savior to all God’s children.

One more thing about Mary. Why do Catholics call Mary the “Untier of Knots”? The Theological answer is: In the 2nd century, the early Church Father Saint Irenaeus of Lyons wrote that what Eve “bound” by her disbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith. Thereby, her obedience to God untangled the “knot” of disobedience created by Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Specifically, this concept of Mary untying knots comes from a lengthy work by Saint Irenaeus, entitled Adversus haereses (Against Heresies). In Book III, Chapter 22, he presents a parallel between Eve and Mary, describing how “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For the knot the virgin Eve had bound fast through disobedience, another virgin, Mary, set free through her faith.” Also, see Luke 1:28, where the Angel Gabriel says to Mary: ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you’.

FYI – Catholic tradition views the grammatical form “full of grace” as a permanent state of being filled with GOD’s grace, with no original sin and divine life, sin-free, unlike Eve.

Lastly, who were the parents of the Virgin Mary? My limited research concluded that Saints Joachim and Anne are believed to be her parents. Are they in the Bible, you may ask? And the answer is: It is probable because Joachim is indirectly named in Luke’s version of the genealogy of Jesus. Here we find the name “Heli”, which is a short form of Eliachim or Jehoachim. This, plus the fact that the names “Joachim” and “Anne” both appear in a 2nd century apocryphal work ”the Protoevangelium of James,” as her parents, which was written around 120 A.D., less than 60 years after the end of Mary’s earthly life, I believe, supports this conclusion (also see the Catholic Answers website).

Lastly, did you know that Saints Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of Grandparents? I use that fact often.

I’d like to end with a prayer written by the late Pope Francis entitled:

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

Mary - Undoer of Knots

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

‘Through your grace [Mary], your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him [God] in all things, may have our hearts focused on Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen’

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You can’t make this stuff up

John Francis Pearring — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:19:00 GMT

By John Pearring

“From you shall come forth for me …” Yes, prophecy is fulfilled — the line of David, the Messiah, was to be born in Bethlehem. Yet within one verse, one chapter, one book—packed into the Old Testament — the impact of its prophecy is felt for hundreds of years, and then is expressed definitively in the chapters and verses of several write…

Homeless Catholic Reflections 9/8/26

John Francis Pearring — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:16:00 GMT

See the latest Homeless Catholic reflections

NEW!

Tim Trainor: Birth of the divine’s abode

John Pearring: You can’t make this stuff up

Older Reflections:

Steve Hall: What is there about his word?

Steve Leininger: A spirited discussion

Lou Occhi: Micah: ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’

Norm McGraw: ‘The Lord will make the rain powder’

Ron Bruni: The path from fear to faith

Steve Hessman: Spoiler: The King of Tyre is Satan

Margit McCarthy: Temptation Trials in the Garden

Latest at ilk Publishing:

John Pearring: Homeless Catholic: A father’s testimony

Margit McCarthy: Praying the rosary with your children

John Silvia: Kiss of Betrayal or Kiss of Love

The OMG reflections from Tim Trainor & John Pearring

Inspired by Mass readings from Tuesday, September 8, 2026

The birth of the divine’s abode

Three heavily involved in God’s Salvation Plan — Jesus, John the Baptist, & Mary

By Tim Trainor

Image by Arnie Bragg

Click here to read Tim Trainor’s reflection from September 8, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

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Tim Trainor’s reflections: He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. (Luke 5:27)

You can’t make this stuff up

“The Lord says.” That’s not hubris. It’s an interdiction, a destruction of all other gods.

By John Pearring

Image by Qrry

Click here to read John Pearring’s reflection from September 8, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

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John Pearring’s reflections: He said to them, “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Are you receiving the daily Catholic Nutshell News?

You can read John Pearring’s books — Snarl, and A Snarl Theology

Homeless Catholic Reflections 9/1/26

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 17:45:11 GMT

See the latest Homeless Catholic reflections

NEW!

Steve Leininger: A spirited discussion

Steve Hall: What is there about his word?

Older Reflections:

John Pearring: ‘Who then can be saved?’

Lou Occhi: Micah: ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’

Tim Trainor: Guard against indifference

Norm McGraw: ‘The Lord will make the rain powder’

Ron Bruni: The path from fear to faith

Steve Hessman: Spoiler: The King of Tyre is Satan

Margit McCarthy: Temptation Trials in the Garden

Latest at ilk Publishing:

John Pearring: Homeless Catholic: A father’s testimony

Margit McCarthy: Praying the rosary with your children

John Silvia: Kiss of Betrayal or Kiss of Love

The OMG reflections from Steve Leininger & Steve Hall

Inspired by Mass readings from Tuesday, September 1, 2026

A spirited discussion

The spiritual person, who is taught by the Spirit and can rightly evaluate spiritual matters

By Steve Leininger

Image by Welcome to All

Click here to read Steve Leininger’s reflection from September 1, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

We are told the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God, and no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. And we learn that not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

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Steve Leininger’s reflections: For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:9)

What is there about his word?

Funny how verses in Scripture sometimes catch your attention and then just won’t let go

By Steve Hall

Image by Jens Hertel

Click here to read Steve Hall’s reflection from Septembe 1, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

It is only with at least a minimal level of spiritual maturity that one can recognize the enormous difference between man and God. Youth couldn’t grasp the beyond-cosmic size of that gap. (Maturity can’t grasp it either, but at least can know it’s there.)

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Steve Hall’s reflections: For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:9)

Are you receiving the daily Catholic Nutshell News?

Catholic Nutshell News

You can read John Pearring’s books — Snarl, and A Snarl Theology

A spirited discussion

Steve Leininger — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 17:33:05 GMT

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
I Corinthians 2:10-16
Luke 4:31-37

After my first couple of times through today’s readings, I had some difficulty finding an obvious connection between the reading from 1 Corinthians and the Gospel reading from Luke. I went down the rabbit hole.

Image by Welcome to All

How did these readings get paired together?

The Church's official lectionary commission selects the readings for the Catholic liturgy, acting under the authority of the Pope and guided by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

In 1965, 31 experts from around the world were appointed to choose passages from the Old and New Testaments that were both clearly understandable and theologically significant for the liturgical year. For two years, the Church’s official lectionary commission studied Scripture, consulted with bishops, and met regularly to determine the best passages for each Sunday and weekday. The readings were arranged to present the story of salvation coherently, ensuring that the faithful encounter a broad range of Scripture over the year.

The Church officially approved their work in 1969 and revised it in 1981. The current Lectionary (scheduled list of approved readings) uses three-year cycles for Sundays (A, B, C) and two-year cycles for weekdays.

There are more details on guidelines, exceptions, and the like, but I’m not getting my reflection done. I didn't get a satisfactory explanation of why today's readings were paired. Perhaps I should squint a bit harder.

A common spirit

The most common word in the first reading and the Gospel is “spirit,” or some variation of the same. That should make things simple! Well, it would be simple if there weren’t so many types and spirits in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Quiz time! When was the Holy Spirit first mentioned in the Bible? Answer: The second verse!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. [Genesis 1:1-2]

The Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, or simply Spirit (with a capital “S”), is the third divine person of the Trinity, co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existent with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is active in creation, inspiration of Scripture, and the life of believers. Also called the Paraclete (Advocate) and Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit works with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the divine plan for our salvation.

Before Jesus started his public ministry, John the Baptist told the followers who were wondering in their hearts if John was the Messiah.

John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” [Luke 3:16]

Soon after that, John baptized his followers and Jesus in the Jordan River.

After all the people had been baptized, and Jesus had also been baptized and was praying, heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” [Luke 3:21-22]

The book of Luke continues with the genealogy of Jesus, his temptation by the devil, the beginning of his ministry in Galilee, and his rejection in his hometown of Nazareth. This leads us directly to today’s Gospel.

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. [Luke 4:31-37]

We have a very different spirit here, identified as an “unclean spirit” or “spirit of an unclean demon.” Elsewhere referred to as “evil spirits,” these spirits are active in opposing God’s purposes and afflicting humanity. This remarkable event happens before Jesus has begun to select his apostles. The unclean spirit causes the possessed man to cry out loudly in obvious fear of who Jesus is — “the Holy One of God.”

With a simple “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Jesus expels the demon from the man. Everyone who saw this knew that this was far beyond anything they had known about dealing with people possessed, not in their right minds. Without elaborate exorcisms and rituals, the demon obeyed Jesus' verbal commands. Where does that authority and power come from?

The Holy Spirit and the human spirit

The human spirit is the immaterial part of a person, often associated with the soul. It is the aspect of humanity that connects with God. Our spirit is also renewed and transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:10–16 teaches that true spiritual understanding comes only through the Holy Spirit, who reveals God’s deep truths to believers and enables them to discern spiritual realities that the “natural” (non‑spiritual) person cannot grasp.

Paul explains that God’s wisdom—especially the meaning of Christ’s work—is not discovered by human reasoning but revealed by the Spirit. The passage contrasts two kinds of people:

• The natural person, who relies only on human faculties and therefore sees spiritual truth as “foolishness.”

• The spiritual person, who is taught by the Spirit and can rightly evaluate spiritual matters.

Thus, our spiritual understanding is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Human wisdom alone cannot grasp God’s truth, but the Spirit reveals it, enabling believers to discern spiritual realities and share in the mind of Christ. Our spirit (small s) is informed and inspired by the Spirit (big S).

Speaking of spirits, why do we say “And with your Spirit?”

I became a Catholic as a young adult in 1975. By that time, the Catholic Church had transitioned from the Mass being presented in Latin to being presented in the local language, in my case, English. I learned that when the priest said, “The Lord be with you,” I responded, “And also with you.”

It comes from the translation of the greeting: Dominus vobiscum et cum spiritu tuo. Since 1970, this has been translated as: The Lord be with you. And also with you. As part of the revised translation of the Roman Missal, which updated the Mass starting in 2011, the translation of this dialogue has been revised to read: The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.

Did you know that happens 5 times in the Mass? I didn’t know exactly. But if you pay attention, you will find this exchange happens:

• During the Introductory Rites, during the greeting after the entrance song

• Just before the Gospel Reading in the Liturgy

• At the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer

• After the Lord’s Prayer and just before the sign of peace in the Communion Rite

• In the Concluding Rites, just before the final blessing

Why has the response et cum spiritu tuo now been translated as and with your spirit?

The retranslation was necessary because it is a more correct rendering of et cum spiritu tuo. Recent scholarship has recognized the need for a more precise translation that expresses the full meaning of the Latin text.

Where does this dialogue come from?

The response et cum spiritu tuo is found in the Liturgies of both East and West, from the earliest days of the Church. One of the earliest instances of its use appears in the Traditio Apostolica of Saint Hippolytus, composed in Greek around AD 215.

How is this dialogue used in the Liturgy?

The dialogue is used only between the priest and the people, or, exceptionally, between the deacon and the people. The greeting is never used in the Roman Liturgy between a non-ordained person and the gathered assembly.

What does the priest mean when he says “The Lord be with you?”

By greeting the people with “The Lord be with you,” the priest expresses his desire that the dynamic activity of God’s spirit be given to the people of God, enabling them to do the work of transforming the world God has entrusted to them.

What do the people mean when they respond “and with your spirit?”

The expression et cum spiritu tuo is only addressed to an ordained minister. Some scholars suggest that spiritu refers to the gift of the Spirit he received at ordination. In response, the people assure the priest of the same divine assistance of God’s Spirit and, more specifically, help him use the charismatic gifts given to him at ordination and, in so doing, to fulfill his prophetic function in the Church.

We are, in fact, recognizing the priest’s ordination and encourage him to “do his priestly duties” as he tends to his flock, us.

(Parts of the “And With Your Spirit” discussion above were copied from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website with their permission.)

We often talk about a spiritual or spirit-filled life. It’s a lifetime journey. We must open our human spirit to be informed by the Holy Spirit, while rejecting the demons and unclean spirits of the world. The Holy Spirit that has been there from the beginning is with us now and will guide us to everlasting life.

In Revelation 22:17, the very last chapter of the Bible, the Holy Spirit reaches out to us:

The Spirit and the bride (the Church) say, “Come.” Let the hearer say, “Come.” Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water. [Revelation 22:17]

We have been invited!

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What is there about his word?

Stevehall3@hotmail.com — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 17:05:04 GMT

By Steve Hall

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
I Corinthians 2:10-16
Luke 4:31-37

Different people have different problems with the various truths of the Christian faith, particularly as they are expressed in Catholic doctrine. For some it is the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. For others it is the pre-eminence of the Pope. For others, it is the various honors claimed for Mary, including that she is the Mother of God.

Today’s Gospel reading gives voice to a similar issue, one even the disciples had.

“What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

In short: “Who is this guy?”

Image by Jens Hertel

Their question echoes a similar comment heard after Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

“What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

When I was young, I foolishly imagined I would understand the meaning of such events even if the disciples did not. I’m a bit older now. Such questions as we hear in today’s readings no longer seem so strange. Why? Because it is only with at least a minimal level of spiritual maturity that one can recognize the enormous difference between man and God. Youth couldn’t grasp the beyond-cosmic size of that gap. (Maturity can’t grasp it either, but at least can know it’s there.)

If the disciples were certain of just one thing, it was that God was God and man was man. The very notion of a man who is also God was beyond even their powers of imagination. They were not, after all, Greeks or Romans or Egyptians whose emperors or Pharos might claim divinity. They were a people whose very origins were founded on the truth of one God and no strange gods. What else might come to mind then but astonishment and wonder when spirits do as commanded? What He did was beyond what men knew was possible. The wind, the sea, and even unclean spirits obey him. How could that be?

But today’s texts go further. Not only do they remind us of the difference between evil spirits and the Divine Spirit, but they also suggest a new truth to both the people of the day and those of us living now. That truth we express as the Trinity. The One God that we know is more enigmatic than we have previously understood. There is God, the Father, the origin of all. There is God the Son, the God present among us. There is God the Spirit, guiding all aspects of creation toward the fulfillment of the plan. And all are One - in origin, in presence, and in guidance.

Whether we stand on the side of the crowd or hold fast to the side of the boat, we are still confronted with the questions: “What sort of man is this? What is there about his word?”

If we listen close, I’ll bet he will tell us.

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Homeless Catholic Reflections 8/25/26

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:03:11 GMT

See the latest Homeless Catholic reflections

NEW!

Steve Hall: ‘Misdirection distracts us from our path

Older Reflections:

John Pearring: ‘Who then can be saved?’

Steve Leininger: We know who the real G.O.A.T. is

Lou Occhi: Micah: ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’

Tim Trainor: Guard against indifference

Norm McGraw: ‘The Lord will make the rain powder’

Ron Bruni: The path from fear to faith

Steve Hessman: Spoiler: The King of Tyre is Satan

Margit McCarthy: Temptation Trials in the Garden

Latest at ilk Publishing:

John Pearring: Homeless Catholic: A father’s testimony

Margit McCarthy: Praying the rosary with your children

John Silvia: Kiss of Betrayal or Kiss of Love

The OMG reflection from Steve Hall

Inspired by Mass readings from Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Misdirection distracts us from our path

Chaos continually attempts to disrupt the order eternally present

By Steve Hall

Image by Pexels

Click here to read Steve Hall’s reflection from August 25, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

Consider the Pharisees and Thessalonians and their focus on minutiae rather than the broader picture. In both cases, the key factor at play is distraction. For the Thessalonians, it was the distraction of a Second Coming, which would eliminate that continual demand to sort and decide. For the Pharisees, it was the distraction of reducing a guiding principle to a more manageable fact.

More …

Steve Hall’s reflections: For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:9)

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Catholic Nutshell News

You can read John Pearring’s books — Snarl, and A Snarl Theology

Misdirection distracts us from our path

Stevehall3@hotmail.com — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:54:13 GMT

By Steve Hall

Consider the Pharisees and Thessalonians and their focus on minutiae rather than the broader picture. In both cases, the key factor at play is distraction. For the Thessalonians, it was the distraction of a Second Coming, which would eliminate that continual demand to sort and decide. For the Pharisees it was the distraction of reducing a guiding principle to a more manageable fact.

Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17
Matthew 23:23-26

Before offering any comments on today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, it is useful to recall just who these people were. Circumstances suggest they were both Jews and Gentiles from the city of Thessalonica in the upper part of Greece, and that they were among Paul’s earliest converts. Paul himself observes that they were unusually strong in their faith.

“We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; so that you became an example to all the believers.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-7)

That’s quite the commendation. Nevertheless, at the time he is writing, Paul has reason to be concerned that they may be misled, even referring to a “letter allegedly” from Paul himself.

“Let no one deceive you in any way. To this end he has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught…”

If Paul were writing to the Thessalonians today, he might well have reminded them of that old saying: “Curiosity killed the cat.” In other words: Inquisitiveness can lead one into dangerous situations. But the issue was far more serious, and the text implies that some were proclaiming the imminent return of Jesus.

Similar declarations have been heard from time to time across the centuries.

None, of course, have been true; but the presence of such a rumor points us directly toward the warning inherent in today’s readings: false teaching, innocent or intentional lies, dishonesty in whatever form, deceptions and misdirections all ultimately come from a single source, and that source is evil.

Image by Pexels

When Jesus castigates the Pharisees for cleansing only the outside of the bowl or cup while ignoring the mold, dirt, and rot within, he is not concerned with the pitiful way they do their dishes. No! His rebuke is because they, the supposed ‘religious leaders,’ have allowed themselves to be deceived into thinking that the dishes just need to look good on the cupboard shelf.

Appearances vs facts! Lies vs truth! Chaos vs order!

Our God is a God of one plus one equals two, not of whatever result we may choose. A God of male and female as he created them, not of what current choice we may choose to make. A God of order throughout the universe, not of infighting among the stars. But we live in an age, not unlike those which have gone before, in which chaos continually attempts to disrupt the order eternally present, always doing so in new and creative ways.

But… we may say: I am immune to that. It does not affect me. How unfortunate if that is true. How deplorable it would be to live in such a shielded state. Why? Because such a separation from the world would have us make real the words of Paul Simon’s song: I am a rock; I am an island. And yet, neither the pebble on the seashore nor the boulder on the mountainside can escape the events that surround them. In fact, as Jesus pointed out, “I tell you, if these [disciples] were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:40)

Fortunately, most of us do not live in a so-called splendid isolation. We live with suggestions from advertisers, influences from the currently popular, pressure from our children, our family, and our peer groups, and proposals from manufacturers. All of these and more seek our attention. And we are continually called to sort and decide among them.

So what! We may say. That’s just part of life.

Or is it?

As we struggle to maintain priorities, to keep a true, accurate, and honest perspective, we are sorely tempted to be guided by false hopes or expectations. Take the Thessalonians, along with any other group throughout the centuries deceived into believing in the proximate return of Jesus. One common feature of those so deceived has been divesting themselves of their property and social/economic ties. “Curiosity killed the cat.” Fortunately, the Thessalonians did not succumb.

Or we might consider the Pharisees. It is not difficult to imagine that sorting through the pressures of six-hundred-plus laws might lead one to be satisfied with attending to only certain, simple parts — focusing on minutiae rather than the broader picture.

In both cases the key factor at play is distraction. For the Thessalonians it was the distraction of a Second Coming which would eliminate that continual demand to sort and decide. For the Pharisees it was the distraction of reducing a guiding principle to a more manageable fact.

We are ourselves deceived if we fall back on the presumed truth that it’s just part of life. Distraction has a purpose; and in the hands of evil it serves a very useful purpose. As long as we are busy with one thing — regardless of its importance — we cannot focus our attention on anything else. The principle is clearly expressed every time we say: “Just a minute. Let me finish this first.” So if we are distracted by things — anything — of lesser consequence, we cannot be engaged with things of greater consequence. As long as Chaos — familial, social, political, economic, or personal — is our guide, nothing truly important can long hold our attention.

When Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of heaven… “ he did not conclude that statement with “sometimes,” or “frequently,” or “when you have a moment,” or “when you are not busy with something else.” No! He proposed it as a lifestyle. Live your life as one seeking the Kingdom.

But now we see that there is an unforeseen consequence to our consideration of distraction, namely, that sin itself has become a distraction. A distraction from what? From the wonder of new life in Christ.

Note an inherent difference between Old Testament and New Testament instructions on spiritual growth. Throughout the Old Testament we find an emphasis on the Law and righteousness. The Law was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, and in the Old Testament, righteousness is the spiritual condition of one who makes a serious attempt to observe that Law. Failure in that regard is what we identify as sin. Paul states it well:

“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” (Romans 3:19)

But sin is intrinsically connected with the Law. Paul continues:

“If it had not been for the law, I should not have known sin. I should not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ Apart from the law sin lies dead.” (Romans 7:7-8)

But now, things are different, and Paul explains it this way:

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus… “ (Romans 3:21-24)

Appearances vs facts! Lies vs truth! Chaos vs order!

That’s what we’re dealing with; and we must deal with it persistently. Evil loves lies in all forms; constant spiritual distraction from the truth is one of its most successful lies. The teaching from Paul, as noted above, is all found in the first of the letters he wrote; and even by the middle of this same letter he will begin instructing these early Christians about the magnitude of change which God has brought about.

From this point on, both in the balance of Romans and in all other letters, he will emphasize the necessity of being transformed into Christ. Sin is mentioned only as something incompatible with this new life.

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Homeless Catholic Reflections 8/18/26

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 16:25:14 GMT

See the latest Homeless Catholic reflections

NEW!

Steve Hessman: Spoiler: The King of Tyre is Satan

John Pearring: ‘Who then can be saved?’

Steve Hall: ‘Arbitrary’ rules drawn up by men

Older Reflections:

Steve Leininger: We know who the real G.O.A.T. is

Lou Occhi: Micah: ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’

Tim Trainor: Guard against indifference

Norm McGraw: ‘The Lord will make the rain powder’

Ron Bruni: The path from fear to faith

Margit McCarthy: Temptation Trials in the Garden

Latest at ilk Publishing:

John Pearring: Homeless Catholic: A father’s testimony

Margit McCarthy: Praying the rosary with your children

John Silvia: Kiss of Betrayal or Kiss of Love

The OMG reflections from Steve Hessman, John Pearring & Steve Hall

Inspired by Mass readings from Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Spoiler alert: The King of Tyre is Satan

The King of Tyre is said to have been in the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13)

By Steve Hessman

Image by Max Efex

Click here to read Steve Hessman’s reflection from August 18, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

Unlike how Satan and God are portrayed in movies, books, and cartoons, Satan and God are not equally powerful enemies warring with one another. On the contrary, Ezekiel 28 tells us the end of the story has already been decided. God, in His sovereignty, has already appointed for Satan, the King of Tyre, to come to a horrible end and to be no more.

More …

Steve Hessman’s reflections: “Amen, Amen. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:24

‘Who then can be saved?’

That’s the whole point, isn’t it?

By John Pearring

Image by Arek Socha

Click here to read John Pearring’s reflection from August 18, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

The camel-through-the-eye-of-the-needle story is one of many metaphors Jesus combines into one message. Nothing, including your body, your reputation, your knowledge, your credentials, and your coin collection, will exist when you die. It’s just your heart and soul that pass on.

More …

John Pearring’s reflections: He said to them, “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

‘Arbitrary’ rules drawn up by men

To claim to be the ‘traffic god’ will inevitably lead to death

By Steve Hall

Image by ACWells

Click here to read Steve Hall’s reflection from August 18, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

The rules of road traffic come to mind. Who is allowed to go and who must yield or stop? Who can turn and when? Who has the right of way? Who has precedence in interrupting the flow? All of these are ‘arbitrary’ rules drawn up by men. To ignore them, to write one’s own rules, to claim to be the ‘traffic god’ will inevitably lead to death.

More …

Steve Hall’s reflections: For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:9)

Are you receiving the daily Catholic Nutshell News?

You can read John Pearring’s books — Snarl, and A Snarl Theology

Spoiler alert: The King of Tyre is Satan

Steve Hessman — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:56:10 GMT

By Steve Hessman

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 28:1-10
Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab
Matthew 19:23-30

Who is the Prince of Tyre? A King? An angel? Or Satan?

As I began researching today’s Reading from Ezekiel, I quickly found that the blasphemous things the prince of Tyre is described as saying and doing have long been understood in the Christian tradition as reflecting the mind and disposition of Satan. I found a reflection by Rachael Schmoyer that I want to read that does a great job of explaining:

“Who is the King of Tyre? (Chapter 28 of Ezekiel.)

I love reading a book or watching a movie that presents a compelling backstory. Remember the television show Lost? Or the new movie of Little Women with its flashback storytelling? Ezekiel 28 tells Satan's backstory in poetic flashback form (with a little flash-forward, too) through God’s message of lament for the King of Tyre.

The Background of Ezekiel’s Message

Ezekiel is forced into exile from Jerusalem to the land of Babylon just as he was preparing to become a priest. One day, while he was sitting by the canal, God appoints him as a prophet, a watchman over the house of Israel. The first section of the book of Ezekiel gives messages of judgment to God’s people. Then, there is a section of judgment for the nations that geographically surround the land of Israel. Several chapters are spent judging and lamenting over the nation of Tyre including a portion of chapter 28 which laments the King of Tyre.

Image by Max Efex

The King of Tyre is actually referring to Satan. Whenever I would study about Satan or see a cross-reference to Ezekiel 28 and would read these verses, they never really made sense to me. But I recently Bible-journaled my way through the entire book of Ezekiel, and now it finally makes sense. The King of Tyre is Satan!

The Use of Prince and King in Ezekiel

In Ezekiel 19, Ezekiel refers to the last four kings of Israel as “princes” of Israel. Why? Because God wants to emphasize that He is Israel's true King. (Some translations may use the word ruler instead of prince, but the idea is the same.) Ezekiel uses this literary construct (referring to kings as princes) several times in the book. In Ezekiel 28, Ezekiel first mentions the prince of Tyre (who is actually the King) and then mentions the King of Tyre who is the power behind the prince. This analogy of prince/king relationships is what really made it click for me, pointing to the King of Tyre as Satan. This is something you don’t notice if you read Ezekiel 28 without reading the rest of Ezekiel.

The Garden of Eden

The King of Tyre is said to have been in the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13: “You were in Eden. The garden of God”). The actual reigning king of Tyre could not have been in the Garden of Eden. Yes, this section is poetic, but the details in the description and the story paint a picture of the actual Garden of Eden.

The King of Tyre was Created Perfect

All humans since Adam and Eve have been born into sin and are sinners (Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God”). Therefore, God would not have said that the human ruler of Tyre in Ezekiel’s day was created perfect (Ezekiel 28:15, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created”). Plus, God rested from creation after the sixth day, so I do not think He would use the word “create” to describe how each human on the earth has been brought into being. So the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 cannot be a human who was born after Adam and Eve.

The King of Tyre was a Guardian Cherub

In fact, the King of Tyre is not described as human at all. He is described as a guardian cherub, an angelic being (Ezekiel 28:14, “With the Cherub I placed you: you were on the holy mountain of God”). Because of his pride, he was thrown down from the mountain of God to the earth. But unlike how Satan and God are portrayed in movies, books, and cartoons, Satan and God are not equally powerful enemies warring with one another.

On the contrary, Ezekiel 28 tells us the end of the story has already been decided. God, in His sovereignty, has already appointed for Satan, the King of Tire, to come to a horrible end and to be no more (Ezekiel 28:19, “you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more for ever”). That has not happened yet. We read more about Satan's final end in Revelation 20.

Why Do We Need Satan’s Backstory?

Once I saw that the King of Tyre is Satan’s backstory, then I wondered why God bothered to give us this information about Satan. What purpose in there in knowing His backstory? I think there are a couple of reasons:

• We need to know Satan is a created being and not an evil godlike equivalent. In the backstory, we are clearly told that he was created. He is not eternal like God is. He is not omnipotent or omniscient. He doesn’t have any qualities reserved only for God.

• We need to know that God is in control. In Ezekiel, God makes it clear that He is the LORD. In fact, that is what God says over and over again in the book of Ezekiel about why He is doing something: “so that they will know that I am the LORD.” Sharing Satan’s backstory fits with this theme of Ezekiel. When we know where Satan came from and where he is going, we know that God is the LORD. God is in control of Satan from start to finish.

• So we know what Satan is all about. He was motivated by pride because of his beauty before he was thrown from the mount of God. He is still motivated by pride in wanting for himself what is rightfully God’s. Knowing about Satan’s pride helps us stay away from pride in our own lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• We are curious! When you read Genesis for the first time, did you wonder, “Where did that serpent come from?” Well, once you read Ezekiel 28, now you know.

For me, it was when I read Rachael’s Reflection on Ezekiel 28.

Next, our Responsorial Psalm is from the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32. In poetic form, it reminds us of God’s faithfulness, Israel’s unfaithfulness, and the consequences of rebellion, emphasizing the importance of remaining true to God. The Song of Moses is delivered by Moses shortly before his death and the Israelites’ entry into the Promised Land. It reminds the people of their Covenant with God and warns them of the consequences of breaking it.

Today’s Gospel reading follows immediately after the story of the Young Rich Man, when he was instructed by Jesus to “go sell what you possess and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.”

Jesus begins today’s parable with a stunning declaration: “It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:23). The metaphor of a camel passing through the eye of a needle is used to illustrate the possession of wealth as a barrier to attaining eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Wealth can become an idol, enslaving us to materialism, false security, and the need to justify actions to keep or gain more. It can distract us from God, making Him secondary to possessions, relationships, and status.

The disciples’ reaction, “Who then can be saved?” is answered by Jesus, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). This affirms that while human effort alone cannot overcome the desire for wealth, God’s grace can transform hearts and priorities.

My take from today’s readings is to always place your trust in God. As we pray in the Divine Mercy Chaplet, “Jesus, I place my trust in You.”

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‘Who then can be saved?’

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:55:47 GMT

By John Pearring

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 28:1-10
Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab
Matthew 19:23-30

The modern, 21st-century version of the “rich” man in Matthew 19:16-22, who will have great difficulty getting into Heaven, totters between two false premises. Our understanding of wealth and the definition of “hard.”

We falsely envision Jesus’ focus on the wealthy young man as a rarity—a member of the 1st Century’s selfish, gold-encrusted 1%. A pathetic fellow, saddened at the prospect of giving away his stuff if he wants to follow Jesus.

He was likely very wealthy—for he had many possessions—but that’s not Jesus’ focus. Jesus speaks not about the actual wealth, but the encumbered weight of possessions. It’s a drag upon where our obsessions belong. Possessions take us away from God.

Image by Arek Socha

“Who then can be saved?” asked Jesus’ disciples. They themselves were men of possessions. In truth, getting possessions—from clothing and paychecks to housing—marked the daily chores of everyone they knew; 100% of people are hunter-gatherers, and those behaviors are required to survive.

Up to this point in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus has generally condemned the elite as prideful, materialistic, and legalistic. This rich fellow exudes holiness at a more authentic level. In fact, he asked Jesus what more he could do. “What do I still lack?”

In truth, he senses something is missing in his spiritual life. That’s a surprising admission. He assuredly has everything he needs.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Many of us hear that, and we steer our monetary minds into a false assumption. Possessions are evil. Really? The math is illogical. We give our evil stuff to some other poor slob so they can be burdened? Jesus isn’t playing hot potato.

The poor are no better attuned to possessions than the wealthy. Most poor folks dream of being wealthy. Envy politics takes advantage of this reality. It’s the scam of both left- and right-wing campaigns. They promise to give you what you don’t have by taking it from the rich, or promise to make sure you can keep what you own by insisting the poor are poor because they didn’t take advantage of the opportunities to be rich like you are.

If both the rich and the poor are sodden with temptations, why does Jesus focus upon the person with many possessions as the one who will find it hard to get into Heaven?

There are three important principles here that Jesus wants us to consider. First, perfection. Second is unloading our possessions, specifically, benefiting the poor. And third is the shifting of our sense of treasure to our heavenly reward. Perfection, unloading, and treasure are not really “steps” in a formula. Rather, two of them are preconditions for becoming perfect so we can fully follow Jesus.

Consider them in reverse. Our treasure is in heaven. Unload your material burdens. Desire to be perfect. These promptings from Jesus can be in any order, but they are necessary for us to be Christ followers. These mindsets must exist before we can become disciples. Be unburdened, love your neighbor, and desire to be perfect for the treasure of eternal life in Heaven rather than the treasures of this life.

The second general false assumption is that the wealthy won’t be able to enter Heaven.

It’s simpler than that. None of us will take possessions to Heaven. Duh.

(Oh, and your DNA goes with you, which God needs to resurrect your body. But that’s all part of that Heavenly treasure promise. DNA is a metaphor, kind of.)

Jesus is making a point, of course, about the wealthy fellow and his possessions. It’s all about the possessing. Any one of us, maybe even those of us poorer than dirt, can have possession issues.

Purgatory is likely full of folks still hanging onto one or the other of the earthly essentials that are no longer essential after death. These things, including ideologies and influences, are wafts of memories. They must be purged, because they are gone. I mean, poof. No longer in your possession. Ergo, the concept of purgation will clear our souls and clean our hearts. It’s both a period of time and a notion of a place — Purgatory — because we’re spatial beings even in Heaven. (That’s way over my pay grade, so don’t get too wrapped up in my statement.)

Back to the disciples’ question. “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, ‘Who then can be saved?’”

The young man was holy, considerate, searching, and authentic. If that guy is going to have a hard time getting into Heaven, then the rest of us are doomed.

Exactly. If your mindset focuses upon perfection as an attainable feat, that is. “Hard” means brick wall, steep cliff, and swallow the ocean, all in one word. Except for the wholly innocent (the aborted babies come to mind), anyone who’s wanted a second piece of pie and then took it grasps the frailty of imperfection. We can try, and we should, but we won’t be perfect. We are, then, imperfect, burdened, and self-centered folks who need God.

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

And there you have it.

Desire perfection, but expect you’ll need forgiveness, and even a dramatic rescue, if we’re honest.

Unburden yourself of all your possessions, but expect instead to be showered with so much that you’ll need help from both friends and strangers to properly use up, eat, maintain, and store all that stuff.

Dream of the glorious existence of your upcoming everlasting life with God and the hosts of angels, cadres of ancients, and fellowship of saints.

For as hard as everything is, for God, all things are possible.

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‘Arbitrary’ rules drawn up by men

Stevehall3@hotmail.com — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:18:00 GMT

By Steve Hall

Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 28:1-10
Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab
Matthew 19:23-30

One might readily conclude that today’s excerpt from the Book of Ezekiel is one non-believers would cite as evidence that the God of the Old Testament was a vengeful, wrathful god with little tolerance and, therefore, frequently angry. Here is the prince of Tyre. As per the Scriptural description, someone whom today we would describe as a ‘self-made man’. Yet he is mocked as being ‘haughty of heart.’ He is sarcastically acknowledged as one who is wiser than Daniel, one who can discern any secret, one whose personal wisdom and intelligence have brought him riches … For that he is condemned.

“I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel. They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.”

Image by ACWells

From this description some might observe that God is narrow-minded, resentful, and prone to punishment. Such a conclusion about the nature of God misses not only the point of the story but also the import of the first commandment. As regards the divine judgment on the prince, the text is clear and somewhat different from that previously described:

“Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, therefore I will bring against you foreigners …“ That’s the point of the story.

But the skeptic would say that merely proves his point: this Old Testament God has no tolerance and therefore condemns those who are merely ignorant and foolish. Only by putting God on a level comparable to man can such a conclusion be drawn. The rules of road traffic come to mind. Who is allowed to go and who must yield or stop. Who can turn and when. Who has the right of way. Who has precedence in interrupting the flow. All of these are ‘arbitrary’ rules drawn up by men. To ignore them, to write one’s own rules, to claim to be the ‘traffic god’ will inevitably lead to death; and that is true, not because of the violation of the law but because ignoring them is counter to the established order. If such is the case with the laws of men, how much more is it true with the Laws of Eternal Facts. One plus one is always two no matter what we may otherwise claim.

Attributing to oneself the nature of divinity or even divine attributes will lead to destruction - not because God gets angry, not because you broke a law, not because God is intolerant - but because there is an order to the universe and a set plan according to which history advances, and it is inexorable, always moving toward that pre-ordained end: “to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

In such a dynamic flow, only one can be truly God: the One who created it, the One who set it on its course, the One who keeps it in existence. Under such circumstances, alignment with the pre-determined purpose is the wise thing to do. That is one reason Wisdom is given such an exalted status in the Scriptures, and why the first two of the Ten Commandments point to the necessity of avoiding someone/something other than the true God.

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Homeless Catholic Reflections 8/11/26

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:27:48 GMT

See the latest Homeless Catholic reflections

NEW!

John Pearring: Ezekiel, the mouthpiece of God

Steve Hall: Beware of the ‘father of lies’

Older Reflections:

Steve Leininger: We know who the real G.O.A.T. is

Lou Occhi: Micah: ‘Just the facts, ma’am.’

Tim Trainor: Guard against indifference

Norm McGraw: ‘The Lord will make the rain powder’

Ron Bruni: The path from fear to faith

Steve Hessman: God’s miraculous outcomes

Margit McCarthy: Temptation Trials in the Garden

Latest at ilk Publishing:

John Pearring: Homeless Catholic: A father’s testimony

Margit McCarthy: Praying the rosary with your children

John Silvia: Kiss of Betrayal or Kiss of Love

The OMG reflections from John Pearring & Steve Hall

Inspired by Mass readings from Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Ezekiel, the mouthpiece of God

Let those who hear, hear! Let those who resist, resist!

By John Pearring

Image by Reijo Telaranta

Click here to read John Pearring’s reflection from August 11, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

Ezekiel often extended God’s messages through symbolic, dramatic presentations. For example, in Ezekiel 4:1-8, he built a model of Jerusalem and laid siege to it for 390 days, representing the years of Israel’s sin. These actions served as powerful visual representations of God’s judgment and the consequences of disobedience.

More …

John Pearring’s reflections: He said to them, “Ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Lamentation and wailing and woe!

Images and storytelling: Jesus’ most common method of instruction

By Steve Hall

Image by joduma

Click here to read Steve Hall’s reflection from August 11, 2026. Here’s an excerpt:

From even a cursory glance at the Gospels, we recognize that images and storytelling were Jesus’ most common method of instruction. Obviously, Jesus also gave words of instruction, such as telling Peter that he must forgive his brother seventy times seven. But then there is the account of the Prodigal Son, and we have to ask which - the words or the story - has the greater impact on the heart.

More …

Steve Hall’s reflections: For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:9)

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Ezekiel, the mouthpiece of God

John Francis Pearring — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:13:37 GMT

By John Pearring

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Ezekiel 2:8-3:4
Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

The weird just gets weirder in Ezekiel, all the way to the end, when God maps out the “New Israel” boundaries of the temple. We get the hint as to what’s going on in verse 17 of Chapter 3:

Son of man, I have appointed you a sentinel for the house of Israel.j When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me.

Ezekiel is on a march through visions from God. When Israel is wont to listen, he will be able to speak. When they are stubborn, he will be mute.

Only when I speak to you and open your mouth, shall you say to them: Thus says the LORD God: Let those who hear, hear! Let those who resist, resist! They are truly a rebellious house. Ezekiel will face fierce opposition with the determination and resistance shown by his opponents.

The entire book of Ezekiel is a series of visions. By chapter 8, we have seen horrifying things.

Do you see the great abominations that the house of Israel is practicing here, so that I must depart from my sanctuary? You shall see even greater abominations!

Image by Reijo Telaranta

Here’s the context. In response to the rebellion of Jehoiakim of Judah in 601 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, besieged Jerusalem. When Jehoiakim’s successor, Jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah king and deported Jehoiachin and the royal family to Babylon, along with upper-class members, including the priest Ezekiel.

Jerusalem was destroyed in 587–586 after a lengthy siege. It wasn't until 582 that large numbers of the best elements of the surviving population were forcibly deported to Babylonia.

Ezekiel's role in all this is as a conduit for God. He first has to convince his audience that they are responsible for the punishment of exile and to justify the Lord’s decision to destroy their city and Temple.

By chapters 36 and 37, Ezekiel argues that the Judahites who embrace his preaching are the people the Lord has chosen as a new Israel, enlivened by a new heart and imbued with new breath. Ezekiel’s a winnowing prophet.

His prophetic ministry began around 593 BC, and continued for at least 22 years. In your reading, you’ll notice the theme of his preaching shifts from God's harsh judgment to the promise of the future.

God gave Ezekiel symbolic actions, strange visions, and even trances, prompting him to teach the people with unforgettable messages. The pinnacle of his stories rests upon the one we heard today. He eats a scroll on which words of prophecy are written, in order to symbolize his appropriation of the message.

Ezekiel does not make it back to Israel; he prophesies while he’s in Babylonian exile. However, Ezekiel does bang on about Israel’s eventual restoration to the land; that is prophecy, not an account of his return.

His prophecies come true, though with a continued bit of hyperbole. St. John used many images of Ezekiel in his writings, specifically in the Book of Revelation. Today, Ezekiel marks Israel's unflagging, resilient resurgence as a leading nation in the world, a lynchpin in God’s constant involvement in our history.

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Lamentation and wailing and woe!

Stevehall3@hotmail.com — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:49:28 GMT

By Steve Hall

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
Ezekiel 2:8-3:4
Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131
Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Images are much easier to remember than words alone. We recognize this in that oft-quoted truism: actions speak louder than words. Jesus was a master at creating images for the purpose of teaching. From even a cursory glance at the Gospels, we recognize that images and storytelling were his most common method of instruction. Obviously, there are words of instruction such as telling Peter that he must forgive his brother seventy times seven. But then there is the account of the Prodigal Son, and we have to ask which - the words or the story — has the greater impact on the heart. Which is more readily remembered?

Of all the prophets, Ezekiel stands apart as a prophet of images. From him we get the account of God removing the stony heart and replacing it with a heart of flesh. From him we get the account of the dry (dead) bones coming together and being fully restored to what they were meant to be.

Image by joduma

Today’s passage from Ezekiel gives us the first of his many visualizations of truth. It is the image of a scroll. Not a blank one, but one filled with words both front and back. And we are led to believe that the words all say the same things in one form or another: “Lamentation and wailing and woe!” The scroll is given by God along with the instructions: “eat what is before you; eat this scroll.”

Ezekiel might just as readily have been instructed to eat what appeared to be a can of worms. YUCH! What else could be one’s reaction when faced with the directive to partake of things so obviously distasteful? Yet, this is exactly what Ezekiel is told to do. Moreover, he is instructed to share it with the house of Israel. The consequences were not those one would expect. “I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” And our reaction is ‘HUH?’ How can something so distasteful in its appearance be as sweet as honey?

It is this image that we are to ponder. This counter-intuitive directive is what we are to consider. “Lamentation and wailing and woe!” And these are as sweet as honey. How can that be? Paul gives us words to understand the dissonance in this image when he writes to the Romans: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

The ‘everything’ may not coincide with our expectations, but it certainly works with God’s desire to draw us closer to himself. So it was with the “Lamentation and wailing and woe!” that had come and were coming to the house of Israel. So also is it with us today.

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