The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Most of my dinner parties don’t play out like the one in today’s Gospel. Except… when they’ve been hosted by a priest from India. I crashed an Indian priests’ social event once and the poor priest running the show insisted on moving people around at the table because I was pastor of a larger Church than any of the other guys there… UNCOMFORTABLE!!! I had to stand there like an idiot watching some holy priest get kicked out of his seat and moved to the end of the table (exactly like what happens in the Gospel today) simply because of our assignments. Honestly, I didn’t want to be at the head of the table. I was perfectly fine sitting at the other end next to the only guy I knew at the whole party who had invited me in the first place.
For the ancient Jews - and for many cultures nowadays - a dinner party is about social standing. But the meaning behind this message of Jesus isn't really about social standing or cultural traditions, it isn’t even just about humility and not over-valuing ourselves. Beneath the surface, the Lord is saying something deeply challenging about the virtue of docility - aka trusting in God’s direction for my choices.
A parishioner this week sent me a text in reference to an advanced spiritual charism from the Holy Spirit that is generally called aridity of the Dark Night of the Soul… (Mother Theresa of Calcutta writes about it extensively in her autobiography…) The parishioner alluded to how unpleasant this “gift” seems. I replied with an analogy to weight lifting. How many of us look at a very heavy dumbbell and think about doing anything with it as “pleasant?” The same with something like music… You could look at a very difficult piece of music and think gosh - what lunatic would want to try to play this mess?
In the Gospel, Jesus advises humility so as not to be embarrassed if you go to a dinner party and over-estimate your social standing. His advice is to under-estimate your standing and allow the host to call you upward. But that same advice runs deeper and is wise in all aspects of life.
What if… God calls me not to a higher social standing but to lead a work of charity? What if God says I want you to use some of your spare time to help the council on aging? What if God calls me not to a high place at table, but to an unpopular stance on some moral issue in one of my relationships?
The idea of being called from the spot I have chosen is the active center of the story Jesus tells. Jesus’ advice, fundamentally, is to choose a place that makes it easier for me to respond to His call.
How do we hear and understand that call:
- Our prayer lives need to include a time of silent listening;
- We need to train ourselves to be aware of opportunities that the Lord puts in our lives;
- We need to cultivate trusty people who can advise us on the teachings of Jesus and help us discern HIS will from our own.
Today’s Gospel fills in a little more of the picture by reminding us humility is an essential part of the attitude of docility. Humility is recognizing God’s greatness, not by thinking less of myself but by thinking of myself less. But it’s near impossible to decide that “I want to be more humble” and then achieve that goal. Just choosing a seat of lesser honor isn’t going to have much effect. Rather, we become more humble as we entrust ourselves more and more to the Lord. And docility as an attitude of the mind and a habit of our prayer lives will make us more humble and more holy.
And that holiness really is a payoff in itself. Yes, it helps us get closer to Heaven - which is a big part of what we’re doing here. But there’s a human component as well. Just as Jesus sells His point by saying humility helps us avoid embarrassing situations, holiness frees us from the unbearable weight of this world. Mother Theresa is a great example. Yes, she received a challenging gift from the Lord - she felt distant from the feeling of God’s presence - but her joy was so contagious that even people who hated her beliefs and everything she stood for, could resist smiling in her presence. That joy speaks volumes for the un-explainable value of holiness.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva & R L Reynolds/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 Madeleine Howington (birth anni)/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue 9:00 am In memory of Joe Farlow/M Bellard
- Wed 9:00 am In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Thu 9:00 am In memory of Jim Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Fri 5:30 pm In memory of Becky Lancaster/family
- Sat 5:30 pm In memory of Nettie and Philip Scurria/family
- Sun 9:30 am For special intentions of Guizerix 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/30 5:30p | - | L Bullard | M Rome |
| 8/31 9:30a | Cooper, Courtland | S Marsh | - |
| 9/6 5:30p | - | A Farlow | C VanderVieren |
| 9/7 9:30a | Annie, Thomas Meyers, Katelyn | A Oliver | - |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sept 5 First Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - 5:30 p.m,
- Sept 7 First Sunday Benediction following Masses of the weekend
- Sept 7 Sunday Morning Catechism resumes with Coffee & Donuts (after 9:30 a.m. Mass)
- Sept 17 Pastoral Council meeting - 6 p.m. - Parish Hall
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.
FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTIONS will take place on September 5 after the 5:30 p.m. Mass. All are encouraged to attend and in order to grow in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION will follow all Masses this weekend as part of our larger program to develop a richer Eucharistic Devotion and to appreciate the gift we have in the true presence of Jesus on the Altar.
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE … First Methodist Church, Tallulah is hosting a program, “Heal Your Hurts, Habits, and Hang-Ups,” and have invited their friends in the community to join them. The program is on Saturday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Challenging speakers will provide the program. Lunch is provided and child care is available. Pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to sign up, contact our church office or the Methodist church office.
DIOCESAN PASTORAL PLANNING The Diocesan pastoral planning process has now been going on for several months. Most of that work was focused on the southern parts of our diocese. In fact, almost no adjustments or improvements were proposed for our “deanery.” Even though no significant changes will take place here, the Bishop invites and encourages everyone to attend a public information session to learn and ask questions about the proposed adjustments to diocesan structures and pastoral models. The nearest meeting for us will be in Ferriday on Sunday, September 7 at 2:00p. All are encouraged to attend.
Our Return to the Lord
Stewardship In the Gospel today, Jesus warns us not to give in hopes of repayment, but to give open-handedly to the poor and needy. That sort of giving mirrors the bountiful giving of God and Jesus assures us it is blessed indeed!
| 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 24 Collection | $ 2,704 |
| August Collections To Date | $ 14,960 |
* 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), Sug Regan (Sept 4), Charlize Richardson (Sept 7)
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, Family/Friends of Cynthia Hicks, 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
