Ordinary Time 26 - We Need A Savior

 

Homily for Ordinary Time 26

September 27, 2026

Christ The Savior

 

            How many of us doomscroll? There is something very addicting about all the influx of bad news we constantly read. But at the same time, it’s a symptom of a culture that’s seriously diseased. A sample of national news shows headlines such as, “Man Steals Firetruck While Firefighters Put Out Blaze At His House” and “AI Researcher Quits, Over Fears That It Will Take Over the World.” I wish these were satire, but they’re not – and these are some of the milder headlines!

            Most people would agree that there’s something seriously wrong with this world. But what’s the cure? Is it more politics, more money, more laws? Well, to look at the cure, we have to look at the heart of the matter: the human heart.

            Most of the problems in the world are fundamentally spiritual problems, because they are a lack of love, a lack of God. For example, Mother Teresa once said, “God did not create poverty – we create poverty because we do not share with one another.” If we truly loved one another, if we truly loved God, then there would be peace.

            But this is difficult, because it involves a conversion of heart. Alexander Solzhenitsyn once said, “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts.” But if we all have evil in our hearts, then changing the human heart is humanly impossible…but not for God.

            This is precisely why we need a Savior – one who will take on our human nature with all of its brokenness, but with none of the evil in His Sacred Heart. St. Paul’s beautiful hymn in the second reading speaks about Christ setting aside His glory and taking on all the weaknesses of our human nature.

            Really, when we look at the Cross, we see all the effects of human brokenness coalescing in one moment in history. We see every hatred, every rejection of God. We see physical suffering and death. We see abandonment and loneliness. We see abuse and sadness. All of the evil things we’ve ever done, all of the evils that have been done to us – and to every human throughout history – were unleashed upon this Divine Man Jesus Christ.

            But Good Friday isn’t the end of the story. We know that three days later, He rose again, showing that God’s love is more powerful than our hate; that God’s life is more powerful than our death; that God’s holiness is more powerful than our sin.

            So what we need, then, to heal this world, is for God’s love and life and holiness to come into this world – and it begins with us. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify society.” It begins with us – have we been so transformed by God’s grace that we can become outposts of His love and light in a very dark world?

            Let’s be honest – many of us here are not convinced that we need a Savior. But I can testify that everyone – saint and sinner alike – is in need of Him. Maybe life is working okay, but that’s because we’re striving to keep all the pieces together, and it’s stressful to keep it all going. Maybe life isn’t working well – our marriage might be on the rocks, we’re stressed about our kids and their problems, we’re struggling with our health or finances – and we need some glimmer of hope. Maybe we’re conscious that we’ve made some serious mistakes and wonder if there’s forgiveness. Maybe we’re good people but want to know if there’s more to life than just getting by.

            For all of us, no matter where we are, we need a savior. At the very least, there is one thing that can never be overcome on our own: death. Death is guaranteed for us all, and it’s a frightening thing. We all need a Savior who can rescue us from death being the great curtain-drop on our existence: and Jesus Christ alone, who is Lord of all, has that power to overcome death, by His death and Resurrection.

            So what does that look like to acknowledge Jesus as our Savior? It starts with four things. First, when is the last time you have been to Confession? If it’s been over a month, I encourage you to go. I’ll make myself available after Mass this weekend. We first have to remove the walls that are blocking God’s grace from reaching our hearts. Second, make a resolution to attend Mass weekly. God’s grace is actually made incarnate in the Eucharist, which is Christ’s Body and Blood – not a sign or symbol, but truly the Savior here upon this altar. Third, start a life of daily prayer. Not a quick Our Father before bed, but really seeking Him. Fifteen minutes at least – maybe the Rosary, or reading the Bible. And fourth, we seek to live for Christ, trying to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds, living according to what He teaches us in the Bible and in the Catholic Church.

            One time, a little girl once wanted to learn about the geography of the United States, so her father found a map of the country in a magazine. He ripped it up into small pieces and said, “This will be a puzzle – when you put the pieces back together, you will learn where the states belong.” The girl went away to work on the puzzle and came back only a short time later with the map completely taped together correctly. The father was amazed and asked how she completed it so quickly. She replied, “On the back side of the map was a picture of Jesus, and when I put him back then our country came together.”

            A sentimental story, to be sure, but one that reveals a profound truth: only when our world returns to God will we find the peace our society desperately needs. And our world will only return to God when we – you and I – decide to return to Him with our whole hearts, seeking to love Him and do His will.

            Do you want to change the world? Pursue holiness. Saints are the only ones who make lasting change in this broken world – and saints are made by turning to the Only One Who can save us: Jesus Christ our Lord.