Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sr. Maria Delaney, SNDdeN September 6, 2026 Matthew 18: 15-20 Eucharistic liturgies are communal experiences. We come together as a community of believers, surrounded by a faithful “cloud of witnesses”. Yet many times, we are present simply because attending has become part of our routine, and we do not pay particular attention to our surroundings. This week, the readings offer us two exhortations and a word of reassurance from Jesus. In this era of major catastrophes and widespread injustices, it can be difficult to know how to respond. Some people react instinctively to news – elated when it is good and dejected when it is bad. It is especially easy to feel helpless when suffering seems distant from our own local community. The first exhortation comes from Psalm 95: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” It is tempting to turn away from the problems of the world because we each have difficulties of our own and only so much energy. Yet none of us wants to be hard-hearted. The psalm asks us to pay attention: to listen for God’s voice and remain open to the needs of others. The second […]