Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"No servant can serve two masters." Jesus tells us that we have two choices in life: one path brings us closer to Him, and the other path takes us away. Earlier in St. Luke's Gospel, He says, "He who does not gather with me scatters."

This means we cannot just sit back and be neutral about what is right and wrong. We either live for ourselves, focusing on what makes us feel good, or we live for Jesus. If we choose to be selfish, we contribute to a world filled with selfishness, which empowers evil. But if we choose to live for Jesus, we help build a world of justice, love, and peace.

Some people think they can stay neutral rather than choosing the correct path, but they are only deceiving themselves. Jesus tells us that we have to make this choice every day, in both small things and big decisions. Each day offers us chances to show our love for Him or to focus on ourselves. Being a Christian means making many choices that either help us follow Jesus or pull us away from Him.

At times, we have all wasted the gifts God has given us because we have all made mistakes. One day, we will face our choices when we die. But for now, we have a special chance to use our lives and talents for His Kingdom instead of just for ourselves. 

When we try to serve two different masters—pretending to follow Jesus on the inside while following the latest trends on the outside—we end up confused and unhappy.

You may have heard of the book "To Kill a Mockingbird," which was adapted into a movie starring Gregory Peck in 1962. It is considered one of the great American classics. The story happens in a small town in Alabama during the 1930s, a time when racism was extreme and before the civil rights movement began.

The main character is Atticus Finch, a lawyer and widower with two children who attend school. The county judge has given him the difficult job of defending Tom Robinson, a Black man who is wrongly accused of crimes against a white woman. The people in the town are upset with Atticus because he is a respected white man, and they think it is wrong for him to defend a black man facing such serious charges. Despite the warnings and threats he receives, Atticus decides to take on the case, and he and his children face numerous problems as a result.

Atticus explains why he believes it is essential to do the right thing, even when it's risky. Near the end of the book, he says, "I can't live one way in town and another way at home." This shows what it means to have a strong and honest heart. It is the key to his integrity, strength, and peace of mind.

Jesus wants us to have whole hearts, strong minds, and peaceful thoughts. He wants us to serve only one master—the right one. One way to keep our hearts focused is to use small visual reminders in conspicuous places. For example, a rosary hanging from the rearview mirror in our car can remind us that our daily choices and actions are like beads on the rosary: together, they help build God's Kingdom. And, it's a great reminder to pray.

If we have offices, we can keep a small cross or crucifix on our desks. This reminds us that our work, when done with care and offered to Christ, can share God's love in the world. There is a man who takes a few minutes every Sunday to think of a phrase that stuck with him during Mass—maybe a word from the Bible, the priest's message, or a thought he had while praying. He keeps that phrase in his mind all week. He might use it as a screen saver at work, send it to himself in a text, or write it on a note card to keep in his book. This helps him stay focused on serving Christ in everything he does.

In some old Catholic countries in Europe, you can find "wayside chapels" along the roads. These are wooden crosses or statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed under roof-like sheltered spots at intersections or beside roads. They remind travelers to consider their proper direction in life and encourage them to pray during their journey.

This week, let's all feel again what it means to serve Him in everything we do. Let's create some "wayside chapels" in our lives to help make His vision a reality in our hearts and in our very lives.