Homily for the Mass Thirty third Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 16 25 C

Deacon Larry Mruz’s homily centered on the story of John Newton, a former slave ship captain whose encounter with a violent storm sparked a long conversion that ultimately led him to faith, abolition work, and the writing of “Amazing Grace.” He connected this history to spirituals created by enslaved people—songs that preserved faith, taught Scripture, and even encoded escape routes to freedom, eventually inspiring later music such as “Mary, Don’t You Weep” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Deacon Larry then linked these stories to St. Paul’s message that Christians must be active witnesses of Christ, not passive or self-centered. He challenged listeners to become “models” of Christ’s love, especially by noticing the suffering of others and offering simple yet profound compassion—beginning with the words, “Are you okay?” Ultimately, he said, when we step outside ourselves to care for others, we become a “bridge over troubled waters,” allowing God’s love to flow through us.