Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In other years: Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 60 The Admission of Priests to the Monastery

Mass: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Resp Ps 40; Heb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53

Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [celebrated before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer 1) of the Solemnity]: Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16;16:1-2; Resp Ps 132; 1 Cor 15:54b-57; Lk 11:27-28

I waited, waited for the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

HEART OF MARY, MOST HUMBLE,

MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Let peace be your quest and aim.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue 17/Ps 34:15)

About establishing peace on the earth, Jesus says He has come not to establish peace, but rather division (Lk 12:51). Jesus gives us the peace the world cannot give. The journey to His peace is challenging, difficult, and a cause for opposition, argument and division. We listen to His voice though, as He says, My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. And we follow Him under the condition that whoever follows Him must pick up her cross and follow Him. In doing so, our joy will be complete. We must not grow weary or lose heart, and persevere as the author of the Letter to the Hebrews puts so eloquently:

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before Him He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken His seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how He endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In our struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

(Hebrews 12:1-4)

As we go forth, then, on this Sunday, united in faith and prayer, we prepare ourselves for tomorrow's Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and join the woman from the crowd who called out to Jesus: "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed" (Lk 11:27). To which Jesus replies: Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it (11:28).

For the person who is kindly, modest, merciful and just will not keep his good works to himself but will see to it that these admirable fountains send out their stream for the good of others. Again, the person who is clean of heart, a peacemaker and ardent for truth will order his life so as to contribute to the common good.

(From a homily on Matthew by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop, in Office of Readings, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

SAINT MAXIMILIAM KOLBE,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This one glows. And He stooped toward me. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022