Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

September is the Month dedicated to the Sorrowful Mother

Readings for the Rule of Saint Benedict for the Week: Ch 5 Obedience - Ch 7:1-23 Humility

The Lord upholds my life.

HOLY MARY, TREASURE OF THE FAITHFUL,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

(James 3:18)

Welcome to the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today is the autumnal equinox, the first day of fall. Change is in the air, dear faithful readers, in ways big and not so big. Take a stroll today: feel, look, listen, what changes are taking place in the place where you find yourself? What is stirring in your heart and soul ... is it time for a change, a shift toward moving closer to the heart of Jesus? 

At Mass late this morning, the words from the Book of Wisdom were proclaimed; I heard something the wicked say: "Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us" (Wisdom 2:12). It may be that we find this Christian way of life somehow obnoxious, inconvenient, even burdensome at times. Maybe we just aren't in the mood to love our neighbor, especially the one who we find difficult. And as far as looking after a poor and needy one, or as Saint Benedict says, "relieve the lot of the poor ...go to help the troubled and console the sorrowing" (RB 4:14, 18), what if I am busy or spending my limited quiet time in prayer? It is not unlikely that Jesus was busy, or conversing with His Father, when the poor, lame, hungry, sick, and dying came to Him. I don't recall that the Lord sent such people away. His disciples, well, that's another matter. Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), who we commemorate this Friday, and comes as our first voice for the week, wrote this: 

It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer. Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave Him for such service. One of God's works is merely interrupted so that another may be carried out. So when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God. Charity is certainly greater than any rule.

Padre Pio (1887-1968), another great saint who we commemorate this week, on Monday, wasn't about turning people away either. It is said that he heard confessions 15-18 hours a day. That's a lot of confessions, a lot of penance given, and a lot of absolution too. Dear Lord have mercy. 

Jesus never said following Him was going to be easy. If you wanted to be His disciple, He was clear that we must carry our cross and follow Him. And that includes helping others to carry their crosses, or as Saint Benedict puts it, "supporting with greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body and behavior" (RB 72:5). Willie Graf, 1918-1943, was clear: "To be a Christian is perhaps the hardest thing to ever become in life." It seems reason enough to become a Christian then, in word, deed, heart, and mind, whether or not it is inconvenient, burdensome, or in some way upsets our apple cart. This week, we can perhaps, united as we are in faith, prayer, and carrying our crosses, not question the Lord or argue about what He is asking us to do. We pray for the grace to go about the daily and be about the pure wisdom from above that is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity (see James 3:17). After all, Jesus did say, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35). By the grace of God, we are what we are.

Before we hear a few voices, please note that this is the penultimate post that you will see for some weeks. There will be no posts during the month of October, the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, and perhaps into the month of November, the month dedicated to the holy souls in Purgatory. I have been at this since September 10, 2017, at least. That's over seven years. A little break is good for the heart and soul. So why not get busy and start collecting some voices, some you hear, here there and everywhere. Thank you for your prayerful support. 😊

Here then with more shouts from here and there, some echoes, some not:

At the death of Vratislaus, the people of Bohemia made his son Wenceslaus their king. He was by God's grace a man of utmost faith. He was charitable to the poor, and he would clothe the naked, feed the hungry and offer hospitality to travelers according to the summons of the Gospel. He would not allow widows to be treated unjustly; he loved all his people, both rich and poor; he also provided for the servants of God, and he adorned many churches.

(From the old Slavic legend, in Office of Readings, September 28)

We are never strong enough to bear our cross. It is the cross which carries us. Nor are we so weak to be unable to bear it, since the weakest become strong by its virtue.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises man to Heaven.

(Saint Ephram the Syrian, 306-373)

What profit you gain from God when you are generous? You give a coin and receive a kingdom; you give bread from wheat and receive the Bread of Life; you give a transitory good and receive an everlasting one. You will receive it back, a hundred times more than you offered.

(Saint Thomas of Villanova, Father of the Poor, 1488-1555)

Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter.

(Padre Pio, 1887-1968) 

God loves a cheerful giver.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 5:16/2 Cor 9:7)

Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.

(Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226)

SAINT MAURICE AND THE THEBAN LEGION,

SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA, FATHER OF THE POOR,

SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA,

SAINT ADOMAN OF IONA,

SAINT STEPHANIE,

OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM,

BLESSED EMILIE TAVERNIER-GAMELIN,

BLESSED ANTON MARTIN SLOMSHEK,

SAINT FINBARR,

BLESSED HERMANN CONTRACTUS "THE WONDER OF HIS AGE,"

SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMIAN, MARTYRS,

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, "APOSTLE OF CHARITY,"

SAINT WENSCESLAUS, MARTYR,

SAINT LAURENCE RUIZ AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: I will praise your name, O Lord, for your goodness.

© Gertrude Feick 2024