Here comes the apocalypse… or is it something deeper?
This Sunday’s readings might sound like fire and brimstone, but Fr. Byrd shows us they’re really about healing, renewal, and getting ready for something better.
The 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time hits hard with themes of judgment, perseverance, and the call to shed what’s old to make room for what is new and holy. Here's what we’re unpacking this week:
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Malachi warns of a coming day that will burn like fire for evildoers. But for those who fear the Lord, it will feel like healing sunbeams (Mal 3:19–20).
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The Psalm reminds us, “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice” (Psalm 98). Not the most musically exciting, perhaps, but spiritually on-point!
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St. Paul gets practical in Thessalonians: Don’t be idle. Do your work. Take responsibility. A nudge toward diligence with apostolic firmness (2 Thes 3:7–12).
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Luke’s Gospel brings the drama with temples falling, wars raging, and believers persecuted. But Jesus tells us not to fear. He will give us the words and the wisdom to endure (Luke 21:5–19).
Fr. Byrd reflects on how this is more than end-times talk. It’s a wake-up call to clear the clutter in our lives—sin, addiction, distraction—and make room for God’s grace. He challenges us to ask: What “old stuff” do I need to let go of so that Christ can make something new in me?
He also shares insight into the connection between prayer, wholeness, and even our physical well-being (get sleep, people!). Real conversion, he says, happens when we stop compartmentalizing and start living as beloved sons and daughters, fully known and fully loved by the Father.
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🧦 Product Spotlight: St. Augustine Socks
If anyone knew a thing or two about letting go of the old self, it was St. Augustine. These socks are a perfect fit for a week all about conversion and perseverance.
