Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

In other years: Saint Januarius (early 4th century martyr); Saint Theodore of Tarsus (601-690); 

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:22-43 The Tools for Good Works

Mass: Wisdom 2:12, 17-10; Resp Ps 54; James 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37

The Lord sustains my life.

HEART OF JESUS, SON OF THE ETERNAL FATHER,

HAVE MERCY ON US. 

In today's Gospel, we are presented with the Second Prediction of the Passion. Jesus teaches His disciples and us: The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after His death the Son will rise (Mk 9:31). The disciples didn't understand, and we don't either. Like the disciples, we find ourselves caught up in jockeying for position (Mk 9:34). Pick me! Pick me! Saint James is clear when he writes, "Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice" (Jm 3:16). As disciples of the Lord, we are not about that. Rather, we seek wisdom from above. Wisdom is "pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity" (Jm 3:17). It is no wonder Jesus took a child, placed it in the midst of the disciples, and put His arms around it (Mk 9:36). Then Our Lord said: Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me. Little Teddy in today's photo speaks volumes. 

Our fidelity to the Lord depends upon our willingness to serve. The more we serve, the more we are aware of God's presence.

(Pope Francis, Angelus Address, September 19, 2021)

SAINT JANUARIUS,

SAIN THEODORE OF TARSUS,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Sure enough, my plans changed. From yesterday, you were meant to see new scenes from our garden. Since then, I received another photo from a proud Grandma, this one taken yesterday, of sweet Teddy. Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Mk 10:14). And one more thing, about the drizzle yesterday. It turned into full force rain and it rained all day long. And rain continues to come and go. The water appears once again in the Mattole River, and even rushes by. And as you see in the photo, little Teddy is all set in his red rain boots. It rained all day in Corvallis, Oregon too. Dew and rain, bless the Lord; Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all forever. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021