The 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Our readings today build one upon the other…
Isaiah begins with the promise that God is sending a squad of top-notch troops out into the world to give people the tools they need to get to heaven. Jesus will be the leader and the soldiers are going to be the members of the Church.
The squad has a specific purpose - to get people to heaven. The squad also has a specific message: Ps 117: Praise the Lord, all you nations… This isn’t a command to say nice things or to say grace before supper. Ps 117 is one of the “Halel Psalms” from a very specific set of psalms that observant Jews say as a formal, duty\obligation on holy days.
The command to Praise the Lord, here, is not casual, but a formal, liturgical duty akin to our obligation to attend Mass or confess regularly.
The letter to the Hebrews continues to build on the theme of God’s chosen soldiers and His specific plan by pointing out the role that suffering and setback will play… But, setback is not really setback!
The fact that we don’t see the kind of success we’d like to see is part of our spiritual heritage. Abraham, Isaac & Jacob’s stories are followed by Joseph saving the Jews from starvation only to be enslaved by Egypt. Moses has to lead a grumbling crowd through the desert for years. Once the Jews receive the promised land - it’s no time before they want a king. King David & Solomon are followed by a hot mess of bad kings. Just when it seems like things are turning around for the Jews, the Babylonians destroy the temple. Within 30 years of Jesus' death, the temple is destroyed again and Roman Empires are killing the Christians.
On and on and on - our faith is one setback after another… And yet, it has persevered through every trial. Through Rome, through the Dark Ages, through the so-called Enlightenment and even through the nuclear fires of crazy that has people confused about what bathroom to use - setbacks are nothing to be afraid of!
That’s when we turn to the Gospel and the question on everyone’s mind: Will many be saved?
The hard truth is that salvation is not automatic. Jesus replies to this question with a tough-love in-your-face answer: don’t worry about the numbers - worry about getting yourself into heaven and about helping as many people as you can get there too. The alternative is to find oneself “cast out” into the wilderness without a homeland.
I’m sure some of us remember watching the Billy Graham Crusades. I loved to hear him preach. His message was powerful, tough-love: Jesus is your friend, but first, He’s your Lord. In the mid-80s, Billy Graham’s fame was at its height. He was in his mid 60s and with the death of Catholic Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Graham was the undisputed king of televangelism. Later in his life, he recalled a life-changing event from the mid 80s. He had looked around and realized that he was a big deal and he realized that pride was building up in him. So he prayed that God would humble him… In one of the most intense moments of his life, Billy Graham heard God speak out loud to him for the only time in his life. God said 5 words: “You weren’t my first choice.”
What we do here, we don’t do on our own. We aren’t owed anything and we don’t have the tools to accomplish anything apart from God. He has set up the Church for us. He’s given us confession and Holy Communion. He explained prayer, fasting and almsgiving to us. He’s given us the saints as an example and plenty of good examples of what not to do. And his primary command to us today is simply to keep focused. Don’t get the big head. Don’t think it’s all taken care of.
The word the Gospel uses is STRIVE. We simply can’t risk assuming that anything less will do! The Gospel of St. John says “If you Love me, You will keep my commands.”
I’ll leave us with the words of football great Vince Lombardi - who was paraphrasing GK Chesterton - Don’t go with the flow! Dead things go with the flow! Only strong, living bodies swim upstream.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Lillie “MaMe” Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Sun 8:00 am (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00 am For a special Magoun anniversary/family
- Wed 9:00 am In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Thu 9:00 am In memory of Rosa and Gus Gremshell and May DiTomasso
- Fri 5:30 pm For a special intention of the Guizerix family
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva & R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 9:30 am In memory of Madeleine Howington (birth anni)/family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Blanche and Skeeter Wilks
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/23 5:30p | - | A Keene | L Magoun |
| 8/24 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | M Lancaster | - |
| 8/30 5:30p | - | L Bullard | M Rome |
| 8/31 9:30a | Cooper, Courtland | S Marsh | - |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- Sun, Sept 7 Sunday Morning Catechism resumes with Coffee & Donuts (after 9:30 a.m. Mass)
For Your Information:
FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org
ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join in prayer. For more information, contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator.
MAUSOLEUM We have reached the end of our sales period for the Mausoleum. It will, of course, be possible to purchase spaces in the future, Our sales representative, Garth Daniels, can be reached at (318) 295-4409 If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to speak with Garth or call the church office.
Our Return to the Lord
Stewardship Today’s reading from Isaiah describes the Israelites bringing their offering to the Lord “in clean vessels.” The gift of myself–my patient endurance and fidelity to the will of God–is as important as the monetary gift I offer.
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| July Budget | $ 10,000 |
| July Collections | $ 14,417 |
| July Total Expenses | $ 6,599 * |
| August Budget | $ 10,000 |
| August 17 Collection | $ 3,094 |
| August Collections To Date | $ 12,256 |
* July’s expenses are actually a few thousand dollars higher than this number and are just about average for us for July for the past few years. The number looks much lower due to dates on which some checks were deposited. Our August expenses will seem off in the other direction for the same reasons.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Dana Daigre Hamilton (Aug 30), Chandler Brook Wood (Aug 31)
Happy Anniversary Mary Jane and Sidney Johnson (Aug 26), Kendra and Dave Collins (Aug 29)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Mike Coullard (Oliver), Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummins, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Lonnie Hollowell (Naya), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Frank McKinney, Skipper and Marty McKinney, Boyce Miller,Cole Norris, Randy Parker, John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Sara and Jess Shields (Keene), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
