News - August 2019 RSS Feed

We gather around the table of the Lord on this Labor Day weekend to share a meal. Our invitation to the eternal banquet of the kingdom begins with our Baptism. Like all invitations, it comes with an RSVP. Our response is found in the way we live our lives—in our gratitude for all that God has done—in our desire to serve God by serving others, and in our life of prayer and worship. In today’s Gospel, we listen to Jesus tell a parable about invitations to a banquet while He Himself is a guest at a dinner—let us consider our hospitality toward others.

 The liturgies over the last several weeks have allowed us to journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem.  The readings have been serious, urging us to put our priorities in order, to discipline our desires, to live Gospel values, and most of all, to pray.  In today’s Gospel, we are given fair warning by Jesus that we should strive earnestly to enter the kingdom of God, and not simply assume a place will be reserved for us. 

Jesus outlines many of the ways in which His coming into the world will cause division, and not peace. He comes, as He says in today’s Gospel, to set the earth on fire—not to destroy it, but to emblaze it with the fullness of God’s love for us. Jesus’ mission was to challenge us to remain faithful to our merciful, loving, forgiving God.

In whom do you trust? Our Scripture readings today assures us that we can always trust in God. Abraham and Sarah were an elderly, childless couple living in a foreign land, but Abraham trusted God’s promise that one day he would have descendants “as numerous as the stars.” How could he believe this? The second reading from Hebrews provides the answer to us. Hebrews says it was because “the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.” In a challenging and uncertain world, let us put our trust in our loving God.

For the next four Sundays, the Gospel ask us to look seriously about getting ready for the return of the Master. What is worthwhile? Is it the accumulation of wealth? See today’s Gospel reading. How can we do the right thing? We should try to be good stewards! See the 19 th Sunday’s Gospel. Will it be easy to live the mission of Jesus? See the 20 th Sunday’s Gospel. Will there be struggles and tribulations? See the 21st Sunday’s Gospel. In summary, these readings are about the end of times.