26th Saturday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Hi, this is Father Nick Smith, pastor of St. Patrick's in Perry.

The disciples return from their mission after they were sent out in pairs to all the towns and villages, and we can hear their joy popping off the page of today's scripture.

The Lord reminds them though, what is a greater wonder in the spiritual life? Whether demons are cast out and whether miracles are wrought in the midst of the church, Or rather, is the greater spiritual miracle that we are able to have eternal life, that our names are written in heaven, that eternal life is possible with God when it was not before because of original sin and our separation from God.

This, in fact, is the greater miracle.

It's the greater work of grace.

The miracles of nature, the miracles of casting out demons, all of these things that we can see or experience are signs of what is to come.

They are signs of the ultimate miracle, the ultimate purpose of our lives, which is to be with God forever in heaven.

And so let us not mistake the means for the end.

All of the sacraments, our prayers, yes, even the natural miracles, the exorcisms, all of these are means to the end of coming into greater union with God.

This is what we ultimately want.

This is ultimately what God wants for us.

So we take advantage of the means, of the sacraments, of prayer, of all the treasures of the church.

knowing that they help us to arrive where we ultimately want to go, to be with God forever in heaven.