Faith, Service, and Humility in Action
Readings and Virtual Homily for October 26, 2025, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Spirit Week at O'Dowd; San Gabriel Media Hits Another Milestone
Readings for Mass this Sunday:
Sirach 35:12-14; 16-18
Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23
2 Timothy 4:6-8; 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Dear Friends and Family,
"He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else," Luke 18:19 (the start of today's Gospel passage).
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is, sadly, perennially current. I always remark that whenever we read a condemnation on Jesus' part of the religious leaders of Israel, the leaders of the Church need to hold it up against themselves as though it were a mirror, to see to what extent it might apply. The reality that there are people who claim to love God, who claim to be striving after holiness, who talk a good talk but refuse to walk the walk, is every bit as much a reality in our day as it was at the time of Jesus. Modern Christian Pharisees, so to speak, might be very particular about observing the letter of the law while ignoring its heart -- this describes the Pharisees of Jesus' day.
And it is a dangerous place for a self-professed follower of Christ to be, when we consider that Jesus' anger (with the sole exception of the money-changers at the Temple) was reserved exclusively for the rule-following, self-righteous and harshly judgmental religious leaders of first-century Israel. The entire twenty-third chapter of Matthew is a searing condemnation of the hypocrisy of many of Israel's religious leaders. "Blind fools," Jesus calls them (Matthew 23:17); "blind guides, who strain at the gnat and swallow the camel" (vs. 24).
In accusing the religious leaders of his day of straining at the gnat, Jesus is saying that they laid far too much emphasis on little infractions of the law, while ignoring huge injustices, or even committing the injustices themselves (swallowing the camel). Jesus calls the Pharisees, Sadducees and other leaders "serpents" and a "brood of vipers" (vs. 33); calls them hypocrites again and again and warns them of "the judgment of Gehenna" (vs. 33).
The Pharisees were guilty of the sin that we today in the Church refer to as clericalism; they served themselves rather than the people; they took advantage of their positions of trust and of power; they sought the advancement of their own careers rather than the service and care of the flock that God had entrusted to them. At the same time they thought themselves righteous because they followed the rules (the Pharisee in today's Gospel offers a "prayer" to God in which he boasts of following the rules).
Let me underscore the fact that there is nothing wrong with following the rules. The rules (in the case of the Pharisees, Mosaic Law; in our case Canon Law) are not arbitrary; they are there for good reason. Properly understood and applied, the rules seek to support and empower the faithful; beyond that, to protect them from evils which arise both from within and without.
But as St. Paul points out over and over again, the law has no power to save. Without a deep conversion of the heart, simply following the rules is meaningless. Today's first reading and the psalm urge us to embrace this very conversion; urge the sort of empowered discipleship that Jesus asks of us.
"Give...generously, according to your means," the first reading urges, for God hears "the cry of the orphan...the widow when she pours out her complaint" (vss. 12, 17). And not just today's verses but most of Psalm 34 concerns itself with the plight of the poor, the afflicted, the marginalized. Repeatedly the psalmist stresses God's love for the poor and his providential care for them, encouraging us to "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (vs. 9) and providing instructions for us, if we would truly follow the Lord (vss. 12-15, among others).
It goes without saying that the religious leaders of the Church (all of us, priests, deacons, bishops) should strive to follow the example of Jesus; should serve the flock rather than ourselves. It goes without saying that we have been trusted with an enormous responsibility and that we should strive to be worthy of it. It goes without saying that we are to model the empowered discipleship urged by today's psalm and first reading. It is nonetheless the fact that Catholic leaders are every bit as human as the Pharisees of Jesus' time.
Pray for us.
This past week was Spirit Week at the high school; a very special week each October, with rallies, talent shows and class competitions, the O'Dowd Olympics and more, and...I was on campus twice this week for some of the fun.
I had spent about an hour, early in the week, answering e-mailed questions from student staff at The Crozier, our student newspaper, about what it is to be on sabbatical, so I was feeling pretty connected regardless. But attending two of the Spirit Week rallies was high-energy joy and thoroughly affirmed for me (as if I needed it) that Bishop O'Dowd is where I am supposed to be at this time in my priestly service, at this time in my life.
I received affirmation as well, this week, that a sabbatical was within the purview of God's will for me, this fall, as San Gabriel Media hit another milestone. Overnight Monday we passed 500,000 subscribers at our You Tube channel. Even I am able to admit that this is an accomplishment. Even I am able to say, looking at this reality, "Well...okay...I guess we are doing something right."
Having made that concession, I reiterate what I have said repeatedly since early summer, as our subscriber numbers first started to climb...500,000 subscribers is a good start. A very good start. I am grateful; grateful and more. Hard to describe the sense of opportunity, but also of responsibility hitting such a milestone implies...Wow. Folks like what we are offering; God be praised.
All the same...I reiterate that we have done little more as yet than pushed back from the gate; that we are merely moving at a good pace along the taxi-way. The runway is coming into view. I will let you know when we are on it. We remain a looooong way, this October of 2025, from lift-off, from flight speed. But we are definitely headed in the right direction and at a rate of speed that, as I say, satisfies even my demanding set of hopes and ambitions.
God be praised.
Take good care. God bless.
Fr. Brawn