2026/10/04 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

- Elise Giles, Sr. Manager of Evangelization & Growth

Have no anxiety at all says this Sunday’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians. None?! Not even a little bit?! I love this passage because it challenges us all to pause and reflect on what we give our attention to. St. Paul goes on to say, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

I have a poster hanging in my office that says, “What’s the best that could happen?” and my reason for purchasing it was partially inspired by this passage. It is so easy to worry and expect the worst but as Christians we are challenged to be different. God asks us to rise above the worries and fears that constantly swirl in our heads and instead to trust Him fully – promising His peace that surpasses all understanding.  

As you read and reflect on this passage, I invite you to go through and think of something for each description that St. Paul shared. Can you think of something True? Honorable? Just? Pure? Lovely? Gracious? Trusting in God does not mean pretending our worries don't exist. It's about choosing, again and again, to set our minds on what is good. St. Paul isn't asking us to ignore reality; he's showing us where real peace comes from. And that peace is already waiting for us the moment we turn our thoughts toward Jesus.