DO NOT LOOK BACK
There is something wonderfully appropriate about beginning this morning with Saint Jerome.
Jerome spent years with words: reading them, translating them, arguing over them, trying to understand exactly what they meant. His great labor helped give the Western Church the Scriptures in a language ordinary Christians could read.
Yet today’s Gospel reminds us that Christianity cannot finally remain on the page.
Three men speak to Christ about following Him. Each has words. Each has intentions. Each has reasons.
Jesus answers with a road.
The Word of God is meant to be heard, certainly. It is meant to be studied. But eventually the book must be closed, the chair pushed back, and the Christian must get up and follow.
So we begin this morning where Jerome spent so much of his life: with the Word of God.
OPENING VERSE
Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall declare thy praise.
INVITATORY
Antiphon: Come, let us worship Christ, the source of all wisdom.
Psalm 94 (95)
Come let us praise the Lord with joy:
let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;
and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great king above all gods.
For in his hand are all the ends of the earth:
and the heights of the mountains are his.
For the sea is his, and he made it:
and his hands formed the dry land.
Come let us adore and fall down:
and weep before the Lord that made us.
For he is the Lord our God:
and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheep of his hand.
Today if you shall hear his voice,
harden not your hearts:
As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness:
where your fathers tempted me,
they proved me, and saw my works.
Forty years long was I offended with that generation,
and I said: These always err in heart.
And these men have not known my ways:
so I swore in my wrath
that they shall not enter into my rest.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: Come, let us worship Christ, the source of all wisdom.
PSALMODY
Psalm 76 (77)
Antiphon: O God, thy way is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God?
I cried to the Lord with my voice;
to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought God,
with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived.
My soul refused to be comforted:
I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away.
My eyes prevented the watches:
I was troubled, and I spoke not.
I thought upon the days of old:
and I had in my mind the eternal years.
And I meditated in the night with my own heart:
and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.
Will God then cast off for ever?
or will he never be more favourable again?
Or will he cut off his mercy for ever,
from generation to generation?
Or will God forget to shew mercy?
or will he in his anger shut up his mercies?
And I said, Now have I begun:
this is the change of the right hand of the most High.
I remembered the works of the Lord:
for I will be mindful of thy wonders from the beginning.
And I will meditate on all thy works:
and will be employed in thy inventions.
Thy way, O God, is in the holy place:
who is the great God like our God?
Thou art the God that dost wonders.
Thou hast made thy power known among the nations:
with thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people, the children of Jacob and of Joseph.
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee:
and they were afraid, and the depths were troubled.
Great was the noise of the waters:
the clouds sent out a sound.
For thy arrows pass:
the voice of thy thunder in a wheel.
Thy lightnings enlightened the world:
the earth shook and trembled.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters:
and thy footsteps shall not be known.
Thou hast conducted thy people like sheep,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: O God, thy way is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God?
Canticle — 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 2:1–10
Antiphon: My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, for he humbleth and he exalteth.
My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord,
and my horn is exalted in my God:
My mouth is enlarged over my enemies:
because I have joyed in thy salvation.
There is none holy as the Lord is:
for there is no other beside thee,
and there is none strong like our God.
Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting:
let old matters depart from your mouth:
For the Lord is a God of all knowledge,
and to him are thoughts prepared.
The bow of the mighty is overcome,
and the weak are girt with strength.
They that were full before have hired out themselves for bread:
and the hungry are filled.
So that the barren hath borne many:
and she that had many children is weakened.
The Lord killeth and maketh alive,
he bringeth down to hell and bringeth back again.
The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich,
he humbleth and he exalteth.
He raiseth up the needy from the dust,
and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill:
That he may sit with princes,
and hold the throne of glory.
For the poles of the earth are the Lord’s,
and upon them he hath set the world.
He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness:
Because no man shall prevail by his own strength.
The adversaries of the Lord shall fear him:
and upon them shall he thunder in the heavens.
The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth,
and he shall give empire to his king,
and shall exalt the horn of his Christ.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, for he humbleth and he exalteth.
Psalm 96 (97)
Antiphon: The Lord is king: let the earth rejoice.
The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice:
let many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him:
justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.
A fire shall go before him,
and shall burn his enemies round about.
His lightnings have shone forth to the world:
the earth saw and trembled.
The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord:
at the presence of the Lord all the earth.
The heavens declared his justice:
and all people saw his glory.
Let them be all confounded that adore graven things,
and that glory in their idols.
Adore him, all you his angels:
Sion heard, and was glad.
And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, because of thy judgments, O Lord.
For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth:
thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.
You that love the Lord, hate evil:
the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints,
he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.
Light is risen to the just,
and joy to the right of heart.
Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord:
and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: The Lord is king: let the earth rejoice.
SHORT READING
Wisdom 7:13–14
Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, and her riches I hide not.
For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.
SHORT RESPONSORY
Let the peoples proclaim the wisdom of the saints.
With joyful praise let the Church tell of their wisdom.
Let the peoples proclaim the wisdom of the saints.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Let the peoples proclaim the wisdom of the saints.
THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY
Luke 9:57–62
And it came to pass, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go, and to bury my father.
And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou, and preach the kingdom of God.
And another said: I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house.
Jesus said to him:
No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
BENEDICTUS
Antiphon: They that instruct many unto justice shall shine as stars for all eternity.
Canticle of Zachary — Luke 1:68–79
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;
because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us,
in the house of David his servant:
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets,
who are from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies,
and from the hand of all that hate us:
To perform mercy to our fathers,
and to remember his holy testament,
The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would grant to us,
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
we may serve him without fear,
In holiness and justice before him,
all our days.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:
To give knowledge of salvation to his people,
unto the remission of their sins:
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God,
in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death:
to direct our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: They that instruct many unto justice shall shine as stars for all eternity.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ is the eternal Word of the Father. Let us ask Him to open our minds to His truth and our lives to His call.
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For the Church: that she may proclaim Sacred Scripture faithfully, boldly, and with the wisdom of the saints,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For bishops, priests, deacons, teachers, writers, translators, and all who hand on the faith: that their words may lead others not to themselves but to Christ,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For those beginning their work this morning: engineers and craftsmen, teachers and students, farmers and laborers, parents in the home and all whose duties seem ordinary; make our daily work an answer to thy call,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For our families and friends: strengthen what is weak, reconcile what has been divided, and teach us to recognize thy presence in those nearest to us,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For those carrying grief, illness, loneliness, fear, or uncertainty today: let thy Word become for them not merely an explanation, but a companion,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For those who know what they ought to do but are afraid to begin: give them courage to put their hand to the plough without looking back,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
For the faithful departed: bring them into the light of thy presence, where faith becomes sight and every promise is fulfilled,
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
And for ourselves: save us from admiring Christianity at a comfortable distance. Give us grace to live the words we pray.
Lord, teach us to hear thy word and follow thee.
OUR FATHER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God, who didst give Saint Jerome a burning love for Sacred Scripture, grant us also a hunger for thy Word.
May we read it with attention, receive it with humility, and carry it into the ordinary duties of this day.
Keep us from hearing thy call only to postpone our answer. Give us courage to follow Christ faithfully, without bargaining over the road and without continually looking behind us.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BLESSING
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
THE PARADOX OF THE DAY
We study the Word of God in order to know where to go—but sooner or later, the Word tells us to close the book and start walking.
CHESTERTON FOR THE MORNING
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
— G. K. Chesterton, What’s Wrong with the World (1910)
A CHESTERTONIAN MEDITATION
There is a peculiar moment in every morning when plans cease to be plans.
The coffee has been poured. The calendar has been consulted. The messages have been checked. Perhaps a notebook lies open on the table with a list of things that must be done.
All of this is perfectly sensible.
But then comes the dreadful moment when one must actually do something.
A list of work is wonderfully obedient. It remains exactly where you put it. A real job immediately begins resisting you.
The bolt is rusted. The computer refuses to cooperate. The person you need has not answered. The child cannot find a shoe. The meeting runs long. The simple repair reveals another repair underneath it.
Reality has begun.
Saint Jerome knew something about stubborn reality.
We remember him as a scholar bent over manuscripts, which makes scholarship sound rather tranquil. Jerome himself was anything but tranquil. He learned languages, compared manuscripts, wrestled with difficult passages, endured controversies, travelled, prayed, argued, repented and began again.
He loved the Word of God enough to struggle with it.
And this morning the Church puts beside Jerome one of the least comfortable conversations in the Gospel.
“I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”
It sounds magnificent.
Christ does not congratulate the speaker.
Instead He warns him that foxes have holes and birds have nests, while the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.
Another man is called and asks for delay.
Another promises to follow after saying farewell at home.
And then comes that hard sentence about the plough:
“No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The image is wonderfully earthy.
Christ does not choose a philosopher contemplating an idea. He chooses a man trying to make a straight furrow.
A ploughman who spends his time staring over his shoulder will make a very interesting field.
The trouble is that it will not be much use as a field.
There is a great difference between thinking about a road and walking down it. There is an equally great difference between admiring Christianity and attempting to live it.
Chesterton saw the distinction clearly. Christianity, he said, had not been tried and found wanting. It had been found difficult and left untried.
That sentence can sound like a grand defense of civilization until we allow it to become personal.
Then it becomes uncomfortable.
For there are commandments we admire much more than we obey.
Forgiveness is magnificent until somebody actually needs forgiving.
Generosity is splendid until the money is ours.
Patience is an excellent virtue until somebody wastes our time.
Trust in Providence is inspiring until Providence declines to explain the plan.
Loving one’s neighbor sounds almost sentimental until the neighbor becomes inconvenient.
And following Christ is beautiful until He starts walking somewhere we had not intended to go.
This is why Saint Jerome matters.
He did not merely admire Scripture.
He submitted himself to it.
There is a danger in knowing holy things well. Familiarity can give us the illusion of possession. We can know where a passage is located, recognize the quotation, explain its context, and still arrange our lives so carefully around it that it never actually inconveniences us.
We may know exactly what Christ said while remaining remarkably skilled at avoiding doing it.
The Bible then becomes rather like a road map framed on the wall.
It may be a beautiful map.
It may be an ancient map.
We may even give lectures on the map.
But roads were made for travelling.
This is perhaps why Christ’s command in today’s Gospel is so immediate.
Follow me.
Not merely understand me.
Not merely approve of me.
Not merely discuss me.
Follow.
And following is necessarily an activity performed in the present tense.
Yesterday’s faithfulness cannot walk today’s mile.
Tomorrow’s good intentions cannot perform today’s duty.
There is only the bit of road immediately under our feet.
This ought to be encouraging.
Most of us will not spend today translating the Bible in Bethlehem. We will spend it answering emails, making breakfast, teaching a class, drawing a machine, paying a bill, calling someone we have been putting off calling, caring for someone, fixing something, apologizing for something, or simply doing the next duty that has been sitting patiently on the desk.
Christian discipleship is often disguised as precisely these ordinary things.
The great temptation is to wait for a more impressive road.
We imagine that following Christ must involve some dramatic spiritual undertaking. Sometimes it does.
But frequently the call of Christ sounds suspiciously like the alarm clock.
Get up.
Begin.
Do the thing before you.
Say the prayer.
Make the call.
Keep the promise.
Forgive the person.
Finish the work.
Help the neighbor.
Tell the truth.
And do not spend the whole morning looking backward.
There are, of course, things behind us worth remembering. Gratitude requires memory. Repentance requires memory. Wisdom itself depends upon remembering what has happened.
Christ is not commanding amnesia.
He is warning against trying to walk forward while living backward.
We can spend enormous amounts of life rehearsing old injuries, old failures, missed opportunities, former successes, vanished seasons, and roads we might have taken.
The past then ceases to become a teacher and becomes an anchor.
The plough stops.
The furrow bends.
And meanwhile this extraordinary morning—the only September 30, 2026 we shall ever receive—is quietly passing through our hands.
Saint Jerome spent his life among ancient words because he believed those ancient words were alive.
That is the marvelous Christian paradox.
The old Book keeps telling us to begin again.
The ancient Gospel keeps saying today.
The Word written centuries ago steps out of the page this morning, stands in the road ahead of us, and says exactly what He said in Galilee:
Follow me.
Perhaps we do not need to know where the entire road leads.
Perhaps that is why it is called faith.
We need only put our hand to the plough, look ahead, and make the next furrow straight.
The sun is up.
The page has been read.
Now comes the adventure of finding out what the Word looks like when it becomes a life.
Lord Jesus Christ, Word made flesh, give us grace not merely to hear thee, but to follow thee.
Chesterton Radio