--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for September 11, 2016 - Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/11/daily-gospel-reflection-september-11-2016-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for September 11, 2016 - Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sep 11, 2016 5:30:38 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-772.png) ***Today's Gospel: [Luke 15, 1-32](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091116.cfm) - Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time*** “The scribes and Pharisees began to complain.” The Revised Standard Edition says they “murmured”: *I can’t believe he’d eat at table with them. He’s condoning their ungodly behavior. It’s scandalous!* In a way, they could be right. What if these tax collectors and sinners haven’t fully repented of their sins? They would still be tax collectors and sinners, violating the God’s law. Taking a meal together is a sign of friendship and acceptance. No one claiming to be a moral authority would do this. Right? In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father does not know the state of the son’s heart before he rushes out to meet him. The son’s journey home is enough for him. The father meets his wayward son on the road, embraces him, and guides him home. We’re faced with a challenge. We cannot call evil good; we cannot encourage it. On the other hand, it’s easy to fall prey to the “Catholic Elite” temptation: thinking we’ve “got it right.” In fact, entire heretical movements have sprung up throughout the Church’s history as a result of this way of thinking. Our goal is to make mercy our standard of judgment. It’s a mercy to lead others out of their sins. It’s also a mercy to be patient as they figure things out. Jesus saw the desire of the tax collectors and sinners to be near him and responded. As his disciples, let us see the impulses of love in even our non-believing neighbors for what they are: movements toward God. Let us meet them on the road, eager for friendship. ### Ponder: Do I esteem others as greater than myself (cf. Philippians 2:3)? Is there someone I consider “beneath me”? ### Pray: Lord, challenge me to honor others. Grant me a gentle heart. Amen   *Copyright 2016 Rhonda Ortiz* Rhonda Ortiz is a writer and graphic designer living in Michigan. Follow her work at [www.rhondaortiz.com](http://www.rhondaortiz.com). ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-11-2016-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-11-2016-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-11-2016-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20September%2011%2C%202016%20-%20Twenty-Fourth%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20Time) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-11-2016-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F11%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-11-2016-twenty-fourth-sunday-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for July 9, 2017 - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/07/09/daily-gospel-reflection-july-9-2017-fourteenth-sunday-ordinary-time) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for July 3, 2016 - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/07/03/daily-gospel-reflection-july-3-2016) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 4, 2016 - Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/04/daily-gospel-reflection-september-4-2016) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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