Week of July 26, 2026

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

As Christians, we rightly proclaim who Jesus is: the Son of God, our Savior, crucified and risen. Yet it is possible to speak so often about Jesus that we fail to listen carefully to Jesus.

In this week’s Gospel, Christ reminds us that faith must bear fruit. Religious words and outward appearances are not enough. Our lives should gradually reveal mercy, patience, truthfulness, generosity, and love. We do not obey God out of fear, however. Saint Paul tells us that we have received the Spirit of adoption and may call God “Abba, Father.” We seek to do God’s will because we are beloved children learning to reflect the character of our Father.
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May our worship not end when the liturgy is over. May the Christ we receive in the Eucharist transform the way we speak, serve, forgive, and care for others. May the world recognize that we belong to Jesus not only because we call him “Lord,” but because his love is bearing fruit in us.
Peace,
Rev. Ben