:: Faith Today: Ordinary Time ::
USCCB brief reflection
on
this day's Readings,
Aug. 22
http://www.usccb.org/video/
reflections.shtml
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010
Today's Mass :: Divine Office :: Divine Mercy :: Saints :: News & Inspiration :: Intentions
Wishing You a Blessed (Extra)Ordinary Time
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough."
"What Happens at Mass" Today's Mass
READINGS: usccb.org/nab/082210.shtml
+ "Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough."
+ "Go out to all the world and tell the Good News."
+ ".... do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines .... "
+ DailyGospel.org Saintly historical commentary, 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time
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GOSPEL: Luke 13:22-30
Strive to enter through the narrow gate
Jesus exhorts us:
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough."
How does the Catholic Faith teach us about the narrow gate? And how, as Christians, do we strive? Do we ask enough for God to strengthen us?
Those left out
Jesus cautions that there are those who felt they knew Jesus and dined with Him, who instead will be numbered among the evildoers.
The "Master of the House" will declare he does not know them:
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, "Lord, open the door for us." He will say to you in reply, "I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!"
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out.
Note the personal nature of our relationship with God.
We are exhorted to keep His Commands, and strive in a steadfast manner to stay the narrow course, but this is not some dry exercise in abstract concepts. The Path of Discipleship is part of knowing God in a personal way and being known by Him as someone recognizable on a personal level as His follower.
The image is a stark reality of being locked out a house, with God at the door and refusing to recognize the damned.
Later, Jesus refers to those Saved as "reclining at table," a personal sharing of fellowship with the Almighty Creator.
How do we deepened a personal relationship with God? How do we recognize His Voice, and know Him, and strive to be more recognizable as His Children?
Invitation to Salvation for all
Even as some are cast out, the Invitation to Salvation is for all persons, from all places:
"And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Jesus is teaching in towns and villages as He journeys to Jerusalem. He journeys among those who understood, from the Old Testament teachings, that they came from a people whom God personally called to be His Own, even as many individuals would fall away from that Path.
The entire Israelite nation had been punished at times, even as God had continued to leave Himself a remnant of the Faithful. Christ reminds His listeners, that this is still the case, that those falling away will be cutting themselves off. At the same time, He explains that God's Invitation is for all humanity. Later, He will send forth His Apostles saying "Go Forth, and make Disciples of all the lands."
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament © 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., at times enhanced to provide additional capitalization. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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"Praying the Psalms
with the Early Christians"
PSALM 117:1, 2
Mark 16:15, the source of the response for this day's responsorial psalm, exhorts:
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Psalm 117 calls all peoples to Glorify God.
God's Kindness and Faithfulness to us are everlasting.
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Isaiah 44-66:
Ancient
Christian Commentary
on Scripture FIRST READING: Isaiah 66:18-21
The Holy Prophet Isaiah speaks of God calling men of all nations and tongues:
Thus says the LORD: ... I come to gather nations of every language ... I will send fugitives to the nations ... they shall proclaim My Glory ... They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the LORD ....
As followers of God, humanity is united. As followers of God, we fulfill our true life and purpose.
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SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us:
... do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines ... God treats you as sons. ... later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
Naturally this advice is a not recipe for complacency or rationalization. At the same time, we are reminded of the unfolding nature of God's Plan, and how we travel a path of invitation to Conversion and Discipleship, including our response to that Invitation, and God's response to us. The author of the Epistle reminds us that seeming hardship is an opportunity to engage God, and allow God to form us into better Disciples, as we embrace the disciplines and opportunities of the Christian Life. These include Faithful perseverance and unending striving to better ourselves, by God's Measure, with God's Help.
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Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
Liturgy of the Hours
Volume IV:
Ordinary Time
Weeks 18-34
In Night Prayer we pray:
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake,
watch over us as we sleep,
that awake, we may keep watch with Christ,
and asleep rest in His Peace.
Night Prayer, The Liturgy of the Hours, According to the Roman Rite, Vol. IV, Ordinary Time - Weeks 18-34, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1975, at 1235.
On this day where the Gospel exhorts us to seek the narrow gate, in the Liturgy of the Hours closing prayer for this day, we pray:
Father,
help us to seek the values
that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what You promise
make us one in mind and heart.Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Office of Readings, Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, The Liturgy of the Hours, According to the Roman Rite, Vol. IV, Ordinary Time - Weeks 18-34, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1975, at 150.
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Saints of August
+ "Saint(s) of the Day," from St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Washington, D.C.
+ "Saint of the Day" by AmericanCatholic.org
(Franciscans; on rare occasions for that site,
slightly different than the official feast day)
+ Saints with Feast Days in August
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News & Inspiration
Saint Bonaventure:
The Soul's Journey
into God
(click here to order)
+ Saints News: Saint Bonaventure: A Man of Action and Contemplation - Pope Benedict XVI
+ Lent: Catechism of the Catholic Church
+ Lent: Papal Message for Lent 2010
+
Bioethics: Human Dignity and Natural Moral Law
+ Abide in God and Keep His Commandments: Pope Benedict on John Chapters 15-16
+ Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: Pope Benedict tells Church to evangelize and care for the sick in body and spirit
+ Saint Anthony of Padua: Example to preachers, one of most popular Saints ― Pope Benedict XVI Audience
News Links
:: USCCB: Bishops Call For Extension Of Trade Preferences For Haiti As Part Of Long-Term Recovery Support
:: USCCB: Bishops Call for Bipartisan Action to Advance Health Care Reform That Protects Human Life and Dignity
:: USCCB: Series of Seminars Slated to Introduce Revised Translation of Roman Missal
:: USCCB: Archbishop O’Brien Speaks At Summit Aimed At Eliminating Nuclear Weapons
:: CNS: Pope expresses sorrow over murder of Christians in Iraq
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Prayer Intentions
Pray for the Holy Father and his August 2010 monthly prayer intentions
August 2010
+ General Intention: Concrete Help, Welcome, Understanding for Homeless and Unemployed - "That those who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties."
+ Mission intention: Church as home for all, especially refugees of war, hunger, and religious or racial discrimination - "That the Church may be a 'home' for all people, ready to open her doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries."
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Additional Faith Central Prayer Intentions
+ For additional support and guidance for the development of Faith Central: Catholic Home on the Web
+ For the unemployed to obtain honorable work and a dignified wage sufficient to meet their needs and those they provide for
+ For the elderly and infirmed, their protection by the Blessed Mother, and that they be treated with respect, dignity, and love.
+ For respect for human life and the dignity of the human person, from their creation
prior to conception, to natural death.
+ That God's Will be obeyed by all actions of government and all government-related actions of the populace
+ For an end to the recession, and for all humanity to work together to bear fruit in service to the needs of all
+ For those of means to divert resources to help those in the human family, locally or abroad, who are hungry, starving, or homeless
+ For peace in the world, and the conversion of the hearts of terrorists.
+ For peace in the world in families, especially for women and men facing crisis pregnancies, their preborn children, and those assisting them, especially their relatives and those volunteers and professionals dedicated to prolife work.
+ For the conversion of the hearts of sinners.
+ For the Faithful Departed, especially the relatives of those
praying and those they have met or have known.
+ For the Faithful Departed, especially those with no one praying for
them.
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Keywords: Jesus Christ, Catholic, Saint Paul, Saint Barnabas, Antioch, Jesus the Good Shepherd, Gospel of John, Psalm 100, Revelations, Saint John the Apostle, Acts of the Apostles, Divine Office, Saint Augustine, Regina Caeli, Liturgy of the Hours, Daily Readings, Mass, Catholic Faith, Christian, Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Father, Prayer Intentions, Catholic News, Scott Hahn
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