Return to Him

Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.
I am speaking as to sensible people;
judge for yourselves what I am saying.
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one Body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.

Look at Israel according to the flesh;
are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
So what am I saying?
That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?
Or that an idol is anything?
No, I mean that what they sacrifice,
they sacrifice to demons, not to God,
and I do not want you to become participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18

R.        (17) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

R.        To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.

R.        To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Alleluia John 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Return to Him

September 12, 2026 // Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Luke 6:43-49

Reflect on the Word // 

My heart sank as doubt weighed it down. The malicious taunts of the enemy arose and shame unraveled in my heart as I found myself, once again, struggling with doubt and distrust. I had multiple prints of Bible verses placed around my room, to remind me of His character. I'd heard of God’s trustworthiness from podcasts, books, homilies, etc. My mind knew the Lord’s words were true yet my heart was estranged and lacked a strong foundation. 

As I allowed my heart to soak in the richness of today’s Gospel, I was convicted by the truth that if I allow my heart to be built on anything but Him—whether it’s doubts, attachments, the lies of the enemy, etc.—I’m bound to be “collapsed” and “completely destroyed” (Luke 6:49). Jesus’ invitation to come to Him, listen to His words, and act on them (see Luke 6:47) isn’t about clinging to self-reliance. It doesn’t imply that I’ll never struggle with doubting again, but when those floods arise and rivers burst against me, I’ll have a foundation. A Person to Whom I can keep coming back and authentically give my heart, struggles, and fears. And not just give my heart, but also open my heart to receive Him.

Sister, Jesus makes this invitation to you. To come back to Him, to listen, and believe. You have a Savior to Whom you can return again and again. He is always willing to receive your heart and give you His Heart of truth and His inexhaustible mercy. The foundation He speaks of is not built on grasping, controlling, or rushing. It’s built on returning to Him. The more we turn back to Him, the more we open and allow our hearts to marinate in His loving pursuit and trustworthy words, the more we go to Him each time we fall, the stronger our foundation will be, and we will bear good fruit in due season. 

Relate to the Lord // Turn your heart to Him and go to Confession this week.

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Before You Go…

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Where I Am Withered
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The Motives of Our Hearts