Psalm Reflection: The Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” - Psalms 95

Lately, it seems like I have been encountering more and more people who struggle with the same thing: the ability to admit when they are wrong.

We all make mistakes.

We all say and do things that are wrong.

There is great potential for growth when we can humble ourselves and admit that we made a mistake, that we were wrong, or that we need help.

When we are too proud, we do what the Psalmist warns us against and we harden our hearts.

God is love, and love always seeks the truth. Love tells the truth and does not lie, conceal, or distort. Love is never about ourselves, but it is always about the other. So, in God’s great love for us, He desires to be with us and to speak to us. His voice of love can transform our lives and our hearts, but sometimes the truth He speaks into our lives is convicting and makes us more aware of how we have not been faithful to the Lord. This is not meant to shame or embarrass us. Rather, the Lord’s voice calls us to respond even more deeply and faithfully to Him and to live the lives of joy and freedom that He created us for.

That is not always how we respond, though. Sometimes the closer we get to God the harder it becomes to face the truth and instead of leaning on the Lord’s mercy, we lean on our own understanding and we try to justify what we did. We can fall into pride, hardening our hearts and preventing us from being able to see things from a perspective other than our own.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and turn away from evil; This will mean health for your flesh and vigor for your bones.” - Proverbs 3:5-8

In Extreme Ownership, authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin share what they learned first-hand on the most violent and dangerous battlefield in Iraq. As leaders of the Navy SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, they helped U.S. forces secure Ramadi, a violent, insurgent-held city that had been considered lost. In sharing firsthand accounts of heroism, tragic loss, and hard-won victories, they talk about the fact that leadership is the most important factor in whether a team succeeds or fails. They argue that true leadership begins with humility—the willingness to admit mistakes, learn from them, and grow. They describe how pride and ego can blind us to our faults, much like the spiritual pride that prevents us from hearing God’s voice. 

They share stories from their time in combat, where leaders who refused to acknowledge their errors endangered their teams. On the other hand, those who embraced humility and accountability fostered trust, growth, and success. In the same way, when we humble ourselves before God, admitting our need for His mercy, we open the door to His grace and healing. The book also highlights the necessity of seeing situations from others’ perspectives—a skill that requires softening our hearts and letting go of our self-justification. 

I wish every single person on the planet read and understood this book, we would all have a much easier time interacting and taking ownership. No one is error proof. We all must face at some point, in this life or the next, the consequences of our behavior, attitude, ideas, and decisions. When the voice of the Lord speaks with love and truth into our lives, we can either take ownership of that love and of the things we have done to separate ourselves from it, or we can harden our hearts. Which will you choose?

When was the last time you felt God speaking to you, either through Scripture, prayer, or the circumstances of your life? How did you respond?

Is there an area in your life where pride has prevented you from admitting you were wrong or seeking forgiveness? What steps can you take to soften your heart and address it?

How do you typically react when confronted with a truth about yourself that is difficult to accept? Do you lean on God’s mercy, or do you try to justify your actions?

How can you take responsibility for your actions and decisions in a way that fosters trust and growth in your relationships?

Do you believe that God’s call to repentance is an act of love rather than shame? How does this perspective change the way you approach confession or reconciliation?

How often do you try to see situations from another person’s point of view? What might God be asking you to learn from their perspective?

I am praying for you. Please pray for me and my family, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, October 5th, 2025, the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C: Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9.