SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 DEACON ROBERT KINGHORN
Well, in the Gospel today, we hear of Jesus setting out for Jerusalem with his apostles. His closest friends. And Jesus and the disciples knew what was going to happen when they got to Jerusalem. There’s a good chance he was going to be killed.
In fact, Jesus said to the disciples, just before this reading that we heard today, he said, “Let these words sink into your ears. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”
“Before you follow me,” Jesus was saying to all the people in the readings today, and to all of us, in fact, “count the cost before you follow me. Count the cost, and then come and follow me.”
You see, we are the ones who have heard the word of God in our life. The words of Jesus. And we have said, “Yes. We will follow you, Lord.” Why do we say that? I think it’s the promise of Jesus that gives us strength to say that. Because Jesus said to each one of us: “I will be with you always. Until the end of time.” This is our hope. This is the promise of Jesus, to each one of us.
You know, Jesus always said to people, “Follow me.” It was his favourite saying, wasn’t it? “Follow me.” Because he knew when people followed him, and were with him, they would be converted. They would see his works, and that would change their lives forever.
I remember many years ago, I was on a bus with someone I worked with. And the bus stopped outside a church. And the people were all coming out of Sunday Mass at the church and she turned to me, and said: “Oh, look at the little sinners coming out of there.” And I said, “I think maybe the reason they are there is because they know that they can get forgiveness there.” They can get forgiveness.
And then she turned to me, and said something I’ll never forget. She said, “Do you know why I’m not a Christian?” I said, “No. Why?” She said, “To be honest, I don’t think I could live up to the commitment I would have to be asked to make.” Hm. There’s an honest person.
But you and I, the ones have said “yes” to this call from Jesus. I’ve got another friend who used to say “Everyone is overworked and under-challenged.” You know, as a Christian, we’re not under-challenged. We are always the one who would come to Jesus, and say, “Lord, what do you want of me?” There’s always challenges in being Christian.
And we, together, you and I and the whole Church, always say to ourselves, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” No turning back. No turning back. This is what Jesus was saying to the disciples as he was on his way to Jerusalem.
I once got a card from someone many years ago, and I still remember what it said. It said, “The slightest movement towards God is the Holy Spirit working within you. Follow it, and it will bring you closer to God.” You see that? That’s the promise of Jesus.
You know when we want to maybe visit a friend who’s sick? People go “Oh, I’ll do it next week. Or the week after.” That is the Holy Spirit speaking to us. That now is the time.
The problem for many people, the many people I meet in the street, is that they have this voice of the Spirit, but have been told too often that they’re worth nothing. They’re of no value. And they don’t believe it any longer.
I may have told you this story before. There was a lady that, when I was downtown late at night, she was sitting in a doorway with a crack pipe. And there she was, so I stopped and said, “Hello, how are you tonight?” She said, “I’m not too good. I really want to get rid of my addiction.” And she said, “I’ve got a husband at home as well.” This lady was probably about I’d say 65-70. “I’ve got a husband at home. I have to try and give it up.”
I said, “Do you want me to pray for you?” And she said yes, so I put my hands on her head, and I said, “You know, you’re a good person.” And I started to pray, and as I prayed and prayed, she suddenly stopped me. She said, “Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Don’t go on. Would you tell me again I’m a good person? I need to hear that.”
You know, this is one of the things that maybe many of our friends have never heard. They’re holy people, they don’t think God speaks to them. That this voice of God coming, and bringing them to God, isn’t for them.
I think for you and I; we’re the ones that can recognize that these are good people, and keep reminding them that God loves them. That they can walk with God just the same as any one of us can do that.
So I think this is really the message of the readings today. As much as Jesus was saying to the people, “Follow me, follow me,” and so many of them had excuses.
I don’t know if it’s like me, I’ve always got a good excuse not to do something. I never have a good excuse to do it very often. But yet we are the ones who have said to Jesus, “Yes, Lord. Gladly.”
And we can be always promised in this Eucharist. And I think this is why so many of you are watching this Eucharist today and celebrating it with us. Because we know that Jesus is living up to his promise that in this moment, he is here for us. Until the end of time, Jesus is with us.
