Twenty-Third Sundy of Ordinary Time

Following Christ means taking up our cross. It is not something we should do lightly or half-heartedly, but something with full consideration. It will require us to leave behind family, at times, if they are not able to follow the Lord themselves. That is what it means to 'hate' them as we are instructed in the Gospel.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Humility marks the life of a follower of Christ. It takes humility to admit we are sinners in need of a savior, in the first place. The Lord instructs His followers to not think to much of themselves, to promote themselves to higher honors. When others come, they will make the determination of where they belong. Humility is needed to enter fully into the liturgy, too. We hear the call of the Lord to come to worship Him, and we submit ourselves to Him.

Growth in humility will help in discerning a vocation - we will more honestly see where we stand before God, with all our talents and sins, knowing we are loved and forgiven, the more we will be able to know His will.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary TIme

The Lord's disciplines those He loves, and He also loves us enough to let us make our choice. In the readings this weekend, we hear of those left outside, begging entry into the house, but the Lord casts them away because he does not know them. How scary those words must be! Those left outside protest - "We ate with you, and listened as you taught in our streets." Note that while Jesus, as we heard just a few weeks ago, tells us that all we have to do is knock, but this is about entering the joy of the house. We must allow the Lord to discipline us, to give us direction. It's not enough for us to hear Him, we must know Him, and in knowing Him, he will know us. This takes prayer, obedience, and love.

Assumption 2010

The Blessed Mother is assumed into Heaven, body and soul. It is only fitting, as the most perfect vessel for the Incarnation of Christ, having been prepared from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception. It is not of her own accord, but rather because she said yes to the Lord.



(Icon of the Dormition - the Eastern Churches' term for the Assumption - calling to mind her 'sleeping' and being taken into Heaven. Note that Christ her Son is at her side, along with the Apostles.)

Sometimes, one considering a vocation, forgets that God not only loves those who follow Him, but He takes care of them. He shows His love of the Blessed Mother by honoring her thus, and he will take care of us, too.

New Vocations Prayer Calendar

I have posted the new prayer calendar for September through February. Download it by Right clicking on the previous sentance.

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

"Faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith makes present, even if intangible, what is distant. It is faith that enables the good steward continue to serve his Master, though he might be distant, and the lack of faith that causes the bad servant to fall into gluttony and abuse. We, who strive to be servants of the Lord, need these faith.

Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

A life focused on possessions leads to a life lived apart from God. The barely veiled greed of a brother feeling slighted is the opportunity for the Lord to teach His followers to avoid greed. He shares a parable of a man so out of reality that he thinks that his bountiful harvest is all his work - with no reference to God, his workers, builders, or servants. God calls him to task.

Many people reject priesthood or religious life because of fear of the loss of possessions. Yet, as we hear this weekend, we must realize that it is God who has given all to us, and we leave it to others when we go... so we focus on what is eternal and truly important: That which is of God!