20260901 Tuesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

(1 Cor 2:10b-16, Lk 4:31-37): We Are Spiritual People Who Have the Mind of Christ My dear brothers and sisters, today is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, established by Pope Francis through his encyclical Laudato Si'. Through this Holy Mass, let us meditate on the profound meaning of God’s creation and ask for the grace of deep conversion as we live our lives as part of this natural world. As I dwelt upon the Word of the Lord, I came to reflect on how all the results brought forth by humanity are a reflection of the values and desires we have pursued throughout history—encompassing the external progress of civilization, changes in our lifestyle, real-time communication, and the current reality where we entrust human roles to artificial intelligence. Yet, what truly matters is not what we have accomplished, but what intentions and purposes we have internalized within our hearts. Among the recent news reports regarding the catastrophic disaster in Nepal, there was a particularly poignant and heartbreaking story. It is now widely accepted that the melting of massive glaciers, which unleashed unavoidable and devastating floods, is rooted in climate issues and global warming. However, the report sorrowfully highlighted a profound contradiction: while 90% of the causes stem from industrialization, reckless consumption, and growing indifference toward the environment in wealthy and developed nations, it is the vulnerable and impoverished nations—contributing less than 0.1% to climate change—that suffer the catastrophic consequences. Facing this reality, though towering skyscrapers may appear as markers of success and prosperity, I pray that such visible appearances do not become the center of our lives. Instead, harmony with nature, deep reflection on human dignity, respect for history and culture, and heartfelt humility in all human endeavors must form the true foundation of this world. Only then can our standard for measuring what this world has truly gained and lost begin to change. Ultimately, everything visible is determined by the underlying spiritual force and the direction of our choices. As creatures living upon this earth fashioned by God, our era experiences a profound thirst for discernment—seeking the Spirit of God and His divine will. In the First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul reminds us: “Among humans, who knows what pertains to a person, except the spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11), and “Now the natural person does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:14). These words compel us to look honestly at the state of the world we are creating today. \What, then, has been built by shallow human wisdom? Within flawed social systems, we see endless conflict and tension driven by the desire to possess power and prevailing paradigms; a numbing indifference to growing violence and eroding trust caused by narrow selfishness protecting national interests; a disregard for human life; and an attitude that prioritizes self over the will of God—building countless Towers of Babel in our time. Yet, if there is a force that sustains this world and leads us to treasure true hope, it belongs to those who quietly fulfill God’s loving will, serving as His “visible hands and feet” to plant the Kingdom of God in people's hearts. As Scripture reminds us, “The spiritual person, on the other hand, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:15-16). We hold a sacred duty to care for this world so that it reflects what God declared at its creation: “It was good.” We are called to fulfill His will using the gifts we have freely received from Him. Does not the Gospel of Luke proclaim, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Lk 4:36)? Through His Spirit of obedience and merciful love, the Lord restores and heals the injustices and contradictions of a world that oppresses the precious creatures destined to breathe and bloom. My dear brothers and sisters, let us draw near to the Lord with a firm resolve: not seeking fading hearts that crave worldly status or honor, but living lives that add the quiet authority and power of spiritual love—like a clear, endless spring that purifies, illuminates, and revives the world. Amen.