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Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide
September 7, 2025 (Cycle C, Year I) – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Community Word: True followers of Christ live a life of love, self-sacrifice, and righteousness.
Theme: We are true followers of Christ when we surrender our plans, attachments, and priorities to Him.
Promise: “…the gracious care of the Lord…prosper the work of our hands.” (Ps 90:17)

Reflection
Following Jesus is not just about doing things for Him. It is about letting Him lead our life completely. This Sunday, the Lord asks us to look at what we hold on to: our plans, our attachments, and even our dreams, and to place them in His hands.

The First Reading (Wis 9:13–18B) reminds us that we do not always know what is best for us. We often make plans, but they can fail or leave us empty. Our understanding is limited. Only God sees the full picture. Only His wisdom can guide us to what is truly good.
In the Gospel (Lk 14:25–33), Jesus tells us that to be His follower, we must carry our cross and be ready to let go of anything that keeps us from Him. This does not mean we must give up everything we love. It means that nothing, not wealth, not success, not even our own plans, should come before Him.

The Psalm (Ps 90) teaches us to “number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Life is short, and many things we chase will not last. God wants us to focus on what matters most: living for Him and trusting His care. St. Paul, in his letter to Philemon, shows this kind of trust. He does not force his own way. He gently asks, believing that God’s love will work in the hearts of others.
Surrendering to God is not about losing control; it is about finding true freedom. When we let go of our need to control everything, God can do more than we expect. He can take our simple work, our small sacrifices, and our ordinary days, and turn them into something meaningful and fruitful.

This week, the Lord invites us to reflect: What is holding us back from following Him fully? Are we clinging to things that give us false security, like money, position, comfort, or even our own fears?

True discipleship means trusting that God’s plan is better, even when we cannot see it clearly. Surrender may seem hard, but it is the only way to real peace. When we give our plans to God, we receive something greater: His care, His direction, and His blessing. We will still work, plan, and dream, but now our efforts are guided by His wisdom, not our own.
Let us remember the promise that God gives us today: “…the gracious care of the Lord… prosper the work of our hands.” (Ps 90:17). When we choose to surrender, He takes what we offer and makes it fruitful, not just for our sake, but for His kingdom.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I give You my plans, my attachments, and my future. Lead me where You want me to go. Free me from fear and selfish desires. Make my work fruitful, my heart at peace, and my life a witness of Your care and love. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
1. What plans or attachments is God asking you to surrender to Him right now?
2. How can you trust God more and let Him lead your decisions and future?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
September 7, 2025 (Sun) – Wis 9:13-18/ Ps 90:3-6, 12-14, 17/ Phil 9-10, 12-17/Lk 14:25-33
September 8, 2025 (Mon) – Mi 5:1-4/ Ps 13:6, 6/ Mt 1:1-16, 18-23
September 9, 2025 (Tue) – Col 2:6-15/ Ps 145:1-2, 8-11/ Lk 6:12-19
September 10, 2025 (Wed) – Col 3:1-11/ Ps 145:2-3, 10-13/ Lk 6:20-26
September 11, 2025 (Thu) – Col 3:12-17/ Ps 150:1-6/ Lk 6:27-38
September 12, 2025 (Fri) – 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14/ Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7, 8, 11/ Lk 6:39-42
September 13, 2025 (Sat) – 1 Tm 1:15-17/ Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5, 6-7/ Lk 6:43-40

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”

Weekly: Theme, Promise, Order, Direction and Prophesies (bldworld.org)