7 August Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“‘Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy’ “(Lk 12:33).
Communion Connection –
These words of Jesus are startling because He demands a total gift. He asks everything from us. He doesn't want us to be overly concerned about the things of this world. He wants us to rely on Him alone.
He knows that earthly wealth is a tremendous obstacle for us because it often occupies our hearts – but He wants to possess our hearts for Himself. We should put into practice these words of Jesus, “Sell… and give.” If we do this, we will fill up bags with a treasure that does not wear out. Since we live in the world, it is only logical that we should be concerned with money and other material things. However, God does not want us to be preoccupied with them. – adapted from Word of Life
He knows that earthly wealth is a tremendous obstacle for us because it often occupies our hearts – but He wants to possess our hearts for Himself. We should put into practice these words of Jesus, “Sell… and give.” If we do this, we will fill up bags with a treasure that does not wear out. Since we live in the world, it is only logical that we should be concerned with money and other material things. However, God does not want us to be preoccupied with them. – adapted from Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/faith-and-the-reasoning-of-the-religious-mind/1008/
14 August Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Jesus said to His disciples, ‘I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!’” (Lk 12 49-50).
Communion Connection –
Jesus gives us the Spirit who fills us with love and He wants us to keep this love enkindled in our hearts.
It's not an earthly, limited kind of love. It's the “agape” or divine love that the Gospel. It's a universal love, like that of the heavenly Father who makes the sun rise and the rain fall on the good and the bad, including enemies. It's a love that doesn't wait for the others to take the first step, but which always takes the initiative by loving first. Because this love is a visible, concrete expression of our life based on the Gospel, it underlines and testifies to the Word that we can and must offer in order to evangelize. – adapted from the Word of Life.
It's not an earthly, limited kind of love. It's the “agape” or divine love that the Gospel. It's a universal love, like that of the heavenly Father who makes the sun rise and the rain fall on the good and the bad, including enemies. It's a love that doesn't wait for the others to take the first step, but which always takes the initiative by loving first. Because this love is a visible, concrete expression of our life based on the Gospel, it underlines and testifies to the Word that we can and must offer in order to evangelize. – adapted from the Word of Life.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/i-have-come-to-cast-a-fire-upon-the-earth/1009/
21 August Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
“As Jesus was teaching, someone asked Him, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’ He answered them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough’ ” (Lk 13:23-24).
Communion Connection –
For those who choose the wide gate of self-centered satisfaction in this life, a sad future lies ahead. Such wanderers lack the discipline, direction, courage to face the real journey proposed by Jesus’ narrow gate,. This is certainly true in the Church. It is not be enough to simply enjoy belonging to one’s religion satisfied by merely observing our Christianity traditions. We ought not take salvation for granted. In order to follow Jesus narrow way, we must deny ourselves; give away our selves, our deny the possessions and relationships in this world. Jesus even says that we must carry the cross as He did. It is a difficult way, it’s true, but with His grace we can all make it. If the wide gate leads to sadness and death, the narrow way leads us to true and eternal happiness.– adapted from Word of Life
Additional Catholic Resources:
28 August Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Jesus said to the host who invited him, ‘When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous’” (Lk 14:13-14).
Communion Connection –
This teaching of Jesus in very countercultural. Not only are we to give our money and possessions to the poor, but are called to share our intimate life, where we dwell, a place at our table normally reserved for our friends and people “like us”. Not not are we to share those aspects of life with the “stranger”, but we are to expect absolutely nothing in return – not even recognition for “doing good”; not in this life. Getting “nothing” in return is an important part of the equation of true discipleship: to follow the leader who we know to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life – without counting the cost. His words alone speak to everlasting life.
Additional Catholic Resources:
- Audio Homily by Fr. Robert Barron http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/humility-the-queen-of-the-virtues/1010/
- Order of Carmelites Lectio http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/lectio-divina-22nd-sunday-ordinary-time-c