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Gospel Commentary for August 27, 2025
Living as God Deserves
Today’s weekday readings encourage us to live “as God deserves.” God does not need to earn our honor or our upright lives—He is always worthy of all glory and praise. Giving glory to God in practice means living a life that is upright, joyful, hopeful, loving, and just. It is only right and fitting.
At the same time, today we remember St. Monica—the woman whose tears won her son for Christ. Her tears and prayers brought Augustine to live “as God deserves.” When Augustine seemed far from redemption, Monica kept crying and praying because she believed her son was “dead” to real life. And what a life Augustine had later! Monica’s tears gave life not only to Augustine, but to the Church for centuries.
That is why today’s Gospel reading recalls the widow of Nain. Her son was truly dead. Yet she was told: “Do not weep.” Save your tears, because God is the God of life. Monica’s tears brought life to Augustine. The widow’s tears brought life to her son. Even today, many mothers and grandmothers cry because they see their children or grandchildren walking paths of death—bad choices, addictions, indifference to faith, extreme materialism, selfishness. To them the message is the same: “Do not weep. Your prayers are heard.” Or perhaps: keep crying, but cry before God with trust, knowing He can bring life out of death. Cry with the faith of Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth, knowing that what seems impossible is always possible for God.
Pray and cry so that your loved ones may live “as God deserves”: upright, joyful, peaceful, hopeful, loving, and just. And this is not only for their personal life, but also for the life of the Church. May all Christians live “as God deserves.” To Him be all glory and praise.