26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Basement renovations continue so no Children's Liturgy today.
In our reading, 70 leaders of Israel received the Holy Spirit and they all began to prophesy. There were 2 men who were not in the tent with the others when this happened but they, too, received the Holy Spirit and they began to prophesy. A man ran to Moses to tell him about them. Joshua, a helper of Moses wanted Moses to stop them. Moses would not stop them because he wants God’s spirit to be in everyone so they can all be prophets.
In our gospel, some of the apostles saw a man curing people of evil spirits by using Jesus’ name. They told him to stop because he didn’t belong to their group. Jesus told them not to stop anyone from doing good, performing miracles using his name. Anyone who is not against them is part of them. Anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ will receive a reward.
Special Saint: St. Vincent de Paul – September 27
Vincent, the son of poor French peasants, was born in 1581. He took care of his father’s pigs.
Vincent was intelligent so his father sent him to school. After finishing his studies, Vincent became a priest.
At first, he taught rich children and lived a comfortable life. He soon realized that the poor needed spiritual help so he started a congregation of priests to work especially among the poor.. He opened hospitals and homes for orphans and the elderly. Vincent de Paul died in Paris in 1660.
Jesus asks us to be good to others, especially those who are suffering. He says to us, “As long as you did it to one of the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it to me”. We can put these words of our Lord into practice and follow the example of St. Vincent de Paul by reaching out to those around us when we see them in need.