Daily Catholic Lectio. Wed, 3 September ‘25. Power of the Gospel and Mission of Christ

Daily Catholic Lectio

Wed, 3 September ‘25

Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday

Saint Gregory the Great, Memorial

Colossians 1:1-8. Luke 4:38-44

Power of the Gospel and Mission of Christ

1. The Gospel Bears Fruit in Love and Hope

Scripture: Paul thanks God for the Colossians’ faith in Christ Jesus, the love they have for all the saints, and the hope laid up in heaven (Col 1:4–5). The Gospel, he says, is “bearing fruit and growing in the whole world” (v. 6).

Church’s Teaching: The Catechism (CCC 1813) teaches that faith, hope, and love are the seeds of holiness, and when nourished, they bear fruit in action.

Pastoral Application: Faith without love is barren, and love without hope quickly fades. The Gospel in us must always grow outward—in works of love—and upward—in hope of eternal life.

2. Christ Heals and Raises Up

Scripture: Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, and immediately she got up and served them (Lk 4:39). Healing leads to gratitude and mission.

Church’s Teaching: Christus Vivit (no. 113) affirms that Christ heals us so that we may live in joy and serve in love.

Pastoral Application: When the Lord heals our wounds—physical, emotional, or spiritual—it is not for us alone. He restores us to rise, serve, and become a blessing for others. Grace always leads to mission.

3. Mission Beyond Boundaries

Scripture: Though the crowds wanted to keep Him, Jesus said: “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose” (Lk 4:43). His mission is universal.

Church’s Teaching: Evangelii Gaudium (no. 20) calls us to be “missionary disciples,” going beyond our comfort zones to share Christ with all.

Pastoral Application: The Gospel cannot be limited to one family, parish, or community. Like Jesus, we must carry the Good News wherever God sends us—in workplaces, schools, and society.

A Note on Pope Saint Gregory the Great (540–604)

Today we also honour Pope Gregory the Great, one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. Though he desired a life of monastic simplicity, he accepted the papacy in a time of crisis and became a true shepherd. Gregory reformed the liturgy, strengthened missionary work—sending St. Augustine of Canterbury to evangelize England—and cared deeply for the poor, calling himself “Servant of the Servants of God.” Like Christ in today’s Gospel, he refused to be kept by comfort, choosing instead to go outward in service and mission.

In sum, Paul thanks God for the Colossians’ faith, love, and hope, showing how the Gospel bears fruit in the whole world. Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, reminding us that healing leads to service and gratitude. He refuses to stay in one place, insisting that His mission is to bring the Good News to all. Pope Gregory the Great lived this spirit—serving the poor, reforming the liturgy, and sending missionaries far beyond Rome. Like him, we are called to be humble servants and missionary disciples, carrying Christ’s Gospel outward.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy