August 2015
2 August Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“‘Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst’ “(Jn 6:35).
Jesus is the bread of life which nourishes us so that we, His Body, in turn may satisfy the spiritual and material hunger of the people around us. Christ is proclaimed to the world not only through the Eucharist, but also through the lives of Christians who are nourished by the Eucharist and by the Word. They preach the Gospel with their lives and their voices, as a living Christ in the midst of humanity - giving love, the life of God to others. – Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
Word of Life SLIDESHOW https://vimeo.com/107676209
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/bread-of-life/851/
9 August Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me’” (Jn 6 44-45).
Communion Connection –
Jesus constantly points to the Father and boldly proclaims His relationship with Him. Let’s be assured of the God who teaches all. In our prayer, in our steadfast belief, we can listen to the Father who speaks to us. That listening will lead us to Jesus, who feeds us with Himself and uses us to communicate with others. And eventually – through this drawing, listening, learning and sharing – all will be made one.
Additional Catholic Resources:
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-bread-of-life-the-body-of-christ/971/
Order of Carmelites Lectio http://ocarm.org/en/calendar-date/2015-08-09
16 August Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me’” (Jn 6:56-57).
Communion Connection –
Food and drink are fundamental to our human existence, and so is love. In Jesus, these necessities of life are united - making Him the source of all we need. He is nourishment and sustenance; He is also charity and self-giving. He loves us deeply and wants to dwell in us – just as He and the Father dwell in one another. There is no greater love, and no greater invitation. It is an invitation to life; the life of eternity.
Additional Catholic Resources:
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-word-of-god-made-flesh/972/
Order of Carmelites Lectio http://ocarm.org/en/calendar-date/2015-08-16
23 August Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God’” (Jn 6:67-69).
Communion Connection –
Peter understood that the words of his Teacher were different from those of other teachers. Their words came from the earth and returned to the earth. Jesus’ words are ‘words of eternal life’, because they contain and communicate the fullness of the life that never ends. There are many ‘teachers’ who invite us to adopt easy solutions, to make compromises. We want to listen to the one Teacher and follow him, who alone speaks the truth. – Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
Word of Life http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2012/03/01/marzo-2012/
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/you-gotta-serve-somebody/853/
30 August Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“He summoned the crowd again and said to them, ‘Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile’” (Mk 7:14-15).
Communion Connection –
Jesus teaches us that it is only our own self – our own heart, and decisions – that make us unclean and separate us from friendship with God. For Jesus, only love can purify everything we do. One who loves, does not sin or kill, or speak ill of others, or steal or betray. So then, let us be guided twenty-four hours a day by love: love for God and for our neighbors. We will then be true Christians. - Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
Word of Life http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2000/09/01/parola-di-vita-settembre-2000/
Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-dilemma-of-the-law/974/
