Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s second reading, we hear the saying of St. Paul, “Brothers and sisters; You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you.” This speaks to a great truth that dwells within each and every spiritual life, and St. Paul refers to it with the word “imitate.” Why must we imitate St. Paul? St. Paul answers this himself in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” We are all called to imitate and become another Christ walking on earth; we are called “the light of the world” (Mt. 5:14). But to do this, we cannot remain the same as we were before we knew Christ. If we are being exhorted to become imitators of Christ, then this implies that we are currently not imitators of Christ. This is why St. Paul also writes elsewhere, “Put off the old man that belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). We must shed the old sinful way of life for the new life of virtue. We must self-reflect on our sinful habits and, with a great love for God, work to clear them out of our souls and to replace them with virtuous habits that guide the mind to think on the life of Christ and those things that He knows to be honorable and just. When we begin to remove sin and clothe ourselves with virtue, the soul becomes free, and life with Christ is brought to fruition. And it is when we have Christ, we can go to those in need and truly be “the light of the world,” shining to those still in the dark.

So, brothers and sisters, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

Reflection by Weston, seminarian