The mass readings today are very relevant. Amos condemns those who exploit the poor and manipulate sacred time for profit. It’s a mirror to our own world, where wage theft, housing insecurity, and consumerism still trample the vulnerable. The poor are bought and sold—now through low wages and predatory loans.
Yet Psalm 113 reminds us: God lifts the lowly from the dust. Even now, He is at work through grassroots justice, quiet acts of mercy, and the resilience of those who refuse to be forgotten.
Paul calls us to pray for all, especially leaders. In a time of division and global unrest, prayer becomes a radical act of unity. Christ, though rich, became poor—so we might inherit the riches of grace.
And Jesus’s words cut deep: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” In a culture of curated abundance and digital distraction, this is a call to freedom. Freedom from the lie that more will make us whole. Freedom to steward what we’ve been given with integrity and compassion.
Smitten With Goodness 