09/12/2026
Our Mass this morning for nurses and teachers was very special. I hope you enjoy Father's homily as much as we did!
Let Your Profession Become Your Mission”
The readings placed before us speak beautifully to everyone who works in nursing, education, healthcare, caregiving, and service. St. Paul tells the Corinthians: “Flee from idolatry.” At first, that may seem far removed from our professions. But perhaps there is a deeper question for each of us: What has become the center of my life? Our careers can become very important. Our responsibilities can become demanding. Our schedules can become overwhelming. Recognition, success, achievement, titles, income, and reputation can slowly become the things by which we measure ourselves. But St. Paul reminds us that our ultimate center must be Christ. You may be a nurse but before you are a nurse, you are God’s beloved child. You may be a teacher but before you are a teacher, you belong to Christ. You may be a doctor, therapist, healthcare worker, administrator, aide, counselor, educator, or caregiver but before your professional identity, there is your baptismal identity. Your profession is something you do. Your identity in Christ is who you are. And when those two come together, your profession can become a mission.
Think about a nurse. A nurse does not simply administer medicine, take vital signs, or follow medical orders. A nurse may be the person who holds the hand of a frightened patient. A nurse may hear the words that a family member cannot say. A nurse may quietly wipe away someone’s tears. A nurse may be present at the beginning of life or near the end of life. Sometimes the greatest healing a nurse offers is not something that comes from a medicine cabinet. Sometimes it is simply: “I am here. You are not alone.” That can be ministry. Think about an educator. A teacher does more than teach mathematics, science, history, reading, or another subject. A teacher may be the first person to notice that a child is struggling. A teacher may recognize a student’s hidden potential. A teacher may speak one sentence of encouragement that a young person remembers for the rest of his or her life. Sometimes a teacher plants a seed and never sees the tree. But God sees. That is ministry. Think about healthcare workers and caregivers. Every day you encounter people who may be afraid, frustrated, angry, lonely, grieving, confused, or exhausted. And sometimes their behavior is not really about you. They are hurting. Christ asks us to see beyond the behavior and recognize the person. That is not always easy. It takes patience. It takes compassion. It takes grace.
And sometimes, before entering your workplace, perhaps your prayer can simply be: “Jesus, let me see every person I meet today with Your eyes.” What a difference that prayer could make. “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” Jesus gives us this beautiful image in today’s Gospel. A good tree produces good fruit. And Jesus tells us that what comes out of us reveals something about what is inside us. This is especially important in professions centered on people. You can have the greatest technical knowledge in the world, but people will remember how you made them feel. They may forget what you taught them. They may forget the medical terminology. They may forget the details of a conversation. But they may never forget that you treated them with dignity. They may never forget that you listened. They may never forget that you encouraged them. They may never forget that when they were afraid, you were kind. That is the fruit Christ is asking us to bear. Good fruit. The fruit of patience. The fruit of compassion. The fruit of gentleness. The fruit of truth. The fruit of forgiveness. The fruit of hope. The fruit of Christ’s love.
And then Jesus gives us one final image: “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them … is like the one who built a house on the ground, on rock.” My dear friends, your profession may change. Your workplace may change. Your title may change. You may eventually retire. Your strength may change. But Christ remains the Rock. Build your professional life on Him. Build your family on Him. Build your relationships on Him. Build our parish communities on Him. And when storms come and they will come we will not collapse because our foundation is not our profession, our success, our reputation, or our accomplishments. Our foundation is Jesus Christ.
What I Hope We Can Build Together: As pastor, my hope for St. Matthew and Sacred Heart is that we become more than places where people come for Mass. I want us to become communities where people say: “This is where I belong.” “This is where I am known.” “This is where I am supported.” “This is where I can use my gifts.” “This is where I can serve.” And our nursing, education, healthcare, and retired professionals have an important role in making that vision possible. You have knowledge. You have experience. You have compassion. You have stories. You have skills. You have relationships. And most importantly, you have Christ. So I invite you: Don’t keep your professional gifts separate from your faith. Bring them to the altar. Bring your experiences to Christ. Bring the people you serve to your prayers. Bring your wisdom to our parish. Bring your compassion to our ministries. And let God transform your profession into a mission of love. The Psalm gives us the perfect response: “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” Perhaps one answer is: “Lord, take what You have given me and let me use it for Your people.” That is the invitation. That is discipleship. That is Christian service.
And that is how we can continue building St. Matthew in Ravenswood and Sacred Heart in Point Pleasant not simply with programs and activities, but with people whose hearts are rooted in Christ and whose lives become good fruit for others. May the Lord bless every nurse, teacher, healthcare professional, caregiver, educator, administrator, counselor, and retired professional among us. May He strengthen you when you are tired. Comfort you when you carry burdens. Give you wisdom when decisions are difficult. Give you patience when people are difficult. Give you compassion when someone is hurting. And remind you every day: “You are not merely going to work. You are being sent on mission.” Amen.
