Lectionary: 358
Reading 1
Beloved:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:
proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine
but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,
will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth
and will be diverted to myths.
But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances;
put up with hardship;
perform the work of an evangelist;
fulfill your ministry.For I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well;
I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15AB, 16-17, 22
R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall be filled with your praise,
with your glory day by day.
Cast me not off in my old age;
as my strength fails, forsake me not.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
But I will always hope
and praise you ever more and more.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
So will I give you thanks with music on the lyre,
for your faithfulness, O my God!
I will sing your praises with the harp,
O Holy One of Israel!
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
In the course of his teaching Jesus said,
“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext,
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation.”He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
We live in a time filled with voices.
Our society has moved from being a physically “present first” society where we are focused on our immediate family and community and face to face relationships to one where the technology enabled construct of social media and man made worlds of the Internet and influencers and more talking heads than ever before imagined …have become the primary focus of most people in our society today.
No longer do we have the luxury of few but meaningful relationships with a small collection of experts around us or available to us to guide us.
Our doctor is probably not the primary voice we listen to for advice….and decisions about our health. Our priest or pastor is not leading the direction most people take in life on values and spiritual relationships with God and others.
No, for most people we choose medical advice from the influencer the highest followers and ability to be presented to us over and over again until we accept their opinion or sales message as the truth.
We listen to all sorts of spiritual mumbo jumbo and pay attention mostly to whatever the most upvoted and followed talking head presents forth.
And it’s no longer real people behind that face we see but AI created images and personalities and most of the time we don’t even know they aren’t real.
In our first reading we are warned,
“For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine
but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,
will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth
and will be diverted to myths.”
If ever this seems to be true it is today.
But you and I are called to hold fast to the truth. The only truth. Use the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ to base choices on and carve out a life that is present in the face-to-face world of flesh and blood humanity.
For some things have not changed.
People are still seeking the truth.
People feel empty until they are filled with the Spirit. And Jesus is the only voice of truth to guide us.
He is the only way. The only light.
We are called as disciples to persevere and stay the course. Keep our eyes not focused on the screen but on the eyes of Jesus Christ for there we will find joy and peace and eternal life.
It is a time to step back and return to the body of Christ, the church.
We cannot let any voice or teacher or influencer alter our course.
Our ministry of building the kingdom right where we live,
among those we see face to face and impact the most by our life and voice is our calling.
And so we
Must speak the good news as we proclaim the truth among the shouting of this man made world. A world that only exists temporarily and can quickly disappear with the flick of a switch.
The real world is still there and so is the truth Jesus taught us. Who are you following?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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