Commentary on the Gospel of September 24, 2025

Sent to Heal and Proclaim

All of us go through highs and lows, times of depression and times of enthusiasm. We experience them in different degrees, depending on our character and life circumstances. This rhythm also shows itself in our spiritual lives. At times we feel blessed, grateful, reconciled with God and others. At other times, we mostly feel our sinfulness and infidelity—cut off from God, from others, even from ourselves, as if we were in an inner exile.

Each situation has its blessings and its dangers (its temptations). In the good moments—those we would like to hold onto forever, like Peter on Mount Tabor—we risk forgetting our weakness, our inclination to sin, and pridefully thinking that the good we enjoy is the result of our own efforts. In the bad moments of depression, temptation, or sin, we risk losing hope in forgiveness and reconciliation, forgetting that God’s reaction to sin is to go out searching for the lost sheep.

Ezra is a good example of how to avoid these pitfalls. At a time of restoration and renewed fidelity, he reminded Israel of its sins—our sins—and that all the blessings enjoyed now were pure grace from God.

This is also the condition of the apostles sent by Jesus to prepare the way for the Gospel: forgiven sinners, healed of their wounds, reconciled and grateful. They could only share their own experience of being set free by Christ. And what is true of the apostles is true of every Christian, for we all share in the apostolic mission of the Church.

Fraternal greetings,