Homily – Rev. James L. Nadeau – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 10, 2021

Good Teacher, what must we do to share everlasting life?
What must we do to make “Thy Kingdom Come?”

Well, the Gospel passage gives us a list of what Jesus expects of us Catholics. As God’s holy people, we are to be faithful to the Covenant. And what is the Covenant? Jesus tells us this in another Gospel: The 1^st Commandment is to love God; the 2^nd is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our sisters and brothers are our neighbors. We must remain faithful to that relationship.

The Church calls us to remember our relationships and to always have an option for the poor, the marginalized - not because they are holier, but because they are in the greatest need. To ignore them is to ignore Jesus.

Our second reading tells us that God’s word is living and effective. But what good is God’s word if we, His body, do not function – do not live as called to live? The only sign of life is growth – becoming more and more like Christ. Becoming more involved so that Church is not just one hour per week. Rather, we are called to make Christ and His gospel active in the world. To make Christ visible. Working for Justice – to change the structures that violate human dignity.

Be faithful to our relationship with God and our neighbor.
Make Christ known in visible and tangible ways.

That is what we must do to inherit the Kingdom of God.