7 September 2025 #firmfoundations
It’s been a rough few weeks in our little corner of the world. We’re dropping to our knees while our words rise to the Lord. We’re reading the news and what’s ‘out there’ while looking into our souls seeing what’s ‘in there.’ There’s so much noise on social media while so much silence about what really ails us: We need Jesus to rule our hearts, our souls, our minds… every single soul wandering through this broken world, wondering how to carry the crosses laid at their feet.
We mortals are not going to be able to navigate our lives without Jesus. That’s the message of our Wisdom sage in the first reading, really. Without the Lord guiding our decisions, we – individuals, families, and a nation – are timid and unsure of our plans. Our earthly concerns weigh on the heart and burden the soul. We try to solve all the difficult things of this earth, thinking if we just enact that law or update this ordinance, we’ll have the answer. But we do not, says our Wisdom sage. Only God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit do. Only they can straighten the crooked and convoluted paths that make our crosses so hard to bear.
As the psalmist cries, “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.”
There is no other choice but the Lord now. We once thought that evil was ‘out there’ and that illusion has been shattered. We now know evil also ‘in here’… in our city, our neighborhoods, our homes, and our own souls. Only the Lord is our refuge, our strength to carry this cross.
Everyone has a cross, there’s no escaping them. Of St. Paul’s many crosses, the one we hear about today is what to do about Onesimus. As a runaway slave, Onesimus must be returned to his owner, Philemon. The law demands it. Onesimus’ cross is the unknown… what happens to him is up to Philemon. Philemon’s cross will be his reputation… will he accept a slave as his brother in Christ and sit side-by-side with him at the Banquet table or will he succumb to the cultural norms and not allow Onesimus his day of rest & worship? Their real-life saga is full of crosses, just like ours. How did they bear them? How do we bear them? The wisdom of the Lord is the only refuge.
How do we develop a relationship with Jesus so that He can be our only refuge? That’s the Gospel today: lay a firm foundation. Pray often and pray hard. Take an Adoration hour and talk to Jesus about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Partake of Eucharist and Confession often. Form Christian friendships for good-clean-fun and accountability, then make them a priority.
Yes. You will “renounce” some old friends and maybe some family... you’ll find their way of life unappealing and unhealthy and not want to be a part of it. Yes, you will be reminded that all your possessions are ‘earthly’ and they won’t matter when you meet Jesus. But you will be prepared for the real battle. The battle for your soul. #firmfoundations