Mass of Welcoming

                                                                 Mass of Welcoming

August 31, 2026

1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Psalm 119; Luke 4:16-30

 

 

The first reading reminds us of the way we begin this new year – not with wisdom or accomplishments, but with the spirit and power of God’s trust in us. The Gospel punctuates this message by relating how Jesus of Nazareth began his year of mission: by announcing that the Spirit of God was with him and was being fulfilled in his person. The same goes for us as we stand at the podium of our classroom filled with anticipation and excitement. We get to do God’s work, and we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit. It does not matter the amount of training or experience we have or do not have; it does not depend upon past accomplishments or achievements; we start at ground zero, and this time is about letting the Spirit of Christ be our source of …. Everything we are.

                What is the work that we have ahead of us? “Being with”… “Being with” – takes off the pressure. We do not have to perform. We have to learn to be with each other. You know our slogan – “being with and for others,” and this is constant effort. Ignatius stressed this value as he remained in touch with other Jesuits on mission; Arrupe asserted this same connection as a community of rooted and grounded in charity, and Pope Francis emphasized it in seeing the future of the church as one of encounter and discovery. 

What does it mean to be with Jesus? The focus shifts from what you may do for him to getting to know the person himself. It is about developing a deeper relationship, increasing intimacy, and learning to be attentively present. This is what we want to happen in prayer. He wants you to come sit with him and come to know him. Find those places and events in this school or in your life where Jesus is most present to you and hold onto them.

It may be time to think about Jesus as an interested friend who wants to know something deeper about your life. We therefore share our honest emotions, thoughts, and desires with him. It means that we approach God less as a master to obey and more like someone who wants to know the nuances of our daily life. Jesus wants to be immersed in our world. Sometimes, we do not even have to talk. We can sit and fritter away time with each other. We simply want to “be with” the One who wants to “be with” you. 

By simply relaxing in the presence of Jesus, we develop an awareness of how the Holy Spirit is guiding us through everyday moments, like invitations, prompts, musings, and it can be at work, through conversations, through someone else’s actions, as well as quiet times. We know the Spirit is present when we experience a metanoia, a time when attitudes are transformed, when a word is softened, when consciousness is expanded. The Spirit works from the inside out almost imperceptible. The power of “being with”, of listening, of simply attending, is the future of church, the future of our lives. Being with allows us to receive the wisdom of God with grace. 

                What does that mean for us as community? During these first weeks, it might be remembering to smile at a new colleague or just say “hello” or even say, “Can you refresh my overloaded memory with your name?” “Being with” might mean only speaking positive words that encourage and affirm. We remain silent when we typically rush in to speak or refraining from humor for a time. We build up one another as a community of faith. We speak with clarity and kindness, while keeping a sense of curiosity and discovery. We handle the inevitable conflicts responsibly so that we always uphold the inherent dignity of those with whom we may disagree. We might even possibly recognize that we are partly wrong – and partly right. We evolve as one community working toward the same evolving mission, the same evolving vision, the same evolving prayer. “Being with” one another and maintaining healthy relationships means that we are doing the work of God. 

                “How” we are as a community is more important than any work we do. It will show how well we know God. Let’s go forth into this year with a renewed enthusiasm for just “being with” each other and knowing that God is right by our side. In heaven, in God’s reign, there are no problems to fix. God esteems you just as you are. You are complete and perfect in God’s eyes. We simply learn to be with each other. God’s heart is on fire for you. Our God wants you to know and to accept this burning love. It is a heart that impels us to amorize the world to the person who is next to us.  Right now, we are in God’s reign. On earth, we have to practice “being with” each other. What if we lived today as if heaven were already on earth, that we are already in God’s presence? Friends, we are.