21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Thoughts from Fr. Ryan

Who do people say that the Son of Man is?

It’s easily the most important question in the history of the world… In the ancient world, they said that Jesus Christ was an unknown God. In His time on Earth, most mistook him as a prophet or a rabble- rouser. For the next 15 centuries, the world saw Jesus as the only hope in times of chaos and instability. For the last five centuries, Jesus has been increasingly misunderstood - sometimes on accident, sometimes on purpose - by people who have something to gain from misrepresenting Him.

Nowadays, Jesus is a homophobe. He’s a sexist. He’s politically incorrect. He’s intolerant and closed- minded. Jesus arrogantly believes that He knows what’s best for other people and He has the audacity to say what makes them uncomfortable…

We could be surprised, but from the time Jesus asked the question in the gospel until today - the world misunderstands Him. They got it wrong then and they get it wrong now.

And so Jesus asks the apostles: Who do YOU - my friends and companions - say that I am?

Sadly, the answer doesn’t improve. The apostles don’t have any answer at all! You could imagine them mumbling among themselves and avoiding eye contact like a new freshman in Algebra…

It was GK Chesterton who said that there’s a reason no one walks through a park and sees a statue of a committee…

Alas, the apostles don’t have a good answer… It’s not until Peter speaks that we get to the truth. Even today, when so many of us Catholics think that the Church is better than it’s ever been before, lots of Catholics - clergy and laity - don’t know our faith. We don’t know how to answer the Lord when He asks who do you say that I am?

Father so-and-so says Jesus is all smiley faces. But Father such-and-such says that He’s a military leader. Father cutsey-pie says that we should just go around telling people how much Jesus loves them. But Father hard-nose says that we should start and end every sermon with the word “hell.”

I don’t say this to cause us anxiety - but to drive home the point Jesus is making in the Gospel. Who do people say that Jesus Christ is? That answer doesn’t come from where you park your car on Sunday and doesn’t come from where you give your tithe. And it doesn’t come any easier if you wear a big black robe with a white collar.

What’s our answer? What’s YOUR answer?

Is it a big, flowery idea? Jesus is my Lord or my savior! What does that mean to you?

Is it a painfully small idea? Jesus is the great teacher and moral founder of the West. Is that enough to really care? Socrates, Diocletian, and Marcus Aurelius can make similar claims.

Is it something bigger than idea? Jesus is the cosmic force of… I can’t even finish that sentence.

Is it something more personal than an idea? Is Jesus a friend or even spouse-like?

My purpose here isn’t to tell you one or the other is good or bad, right or wrong, helpful or unhelpful… It’s to hammer home just how important it is that we have an answer to this all important question. And that we not assume that the answer in our hearts doesn’t matter just because we come to Church.

The crowd has the wrong answers and the apostles have no answer. Peter’s answer is truthful for all of us - Jesus is the Son of God. But it’s truer for Peter because Jesus tells us that the answer Peter gives comes from real prayer and from the Father and the Holy Spirit revealing that answer to Him.

If we were to put in a visit to a cloistered nun, especially a traditionally-minded one, her answer to this question would immediately be that “Jesus is my spouse.” And that would be true! Not for all of us, but for her. In fact, it would be as true as Peter’s answer is when he gives it.

The answer isn’t an academic matter. It arises from personal, intimate prayer. Not from affiliation or membership or study, but from personal prayer.

And so again, for this all important question, I ask, who do you say that Jesus, the son of man, is?

Upcoming Events

Confessions every Fri & Sat ~5p until Mass and Sunday ~9a until Mass
Sunday Morning Catechism (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:30a Mass unless otherwise indicated
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
August 23 Sunday Morning Catechism (along with Donuts and Coffee in the Hall) begins following the 9:30a Mass

For Your Information:

SUNDAY MORNING CATECHISM will resume on Sunday, August 23, following the 9:30a Mass in the Hall. Although the program talks are prepared for parents of our children, anyone is welcome to attend and have lots of their own questions answered! Carbohydrates and coffee are provided!!!

FINAL TALK BEFORE SPAIN TRIP As we have a number of folks who will be traveling on pilgrimage to Spain this fall, Fr Ryan has organized talks around the geographic regions on the tour. The final talk is on the city and story of Fatimá on Wed, Aug 26 at 6p in the Hall and is open to everyone.

ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is welcome. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more 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

MAUSOLEUM construction is expected to begin in the next two months. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to call the church office for additional information.

PASTORAL COUNCIL The Pastoral Council met during the past week. Welcomed as new members to the council for a three-year term were Margo Corulla and Christi McEacharn. Other members of the Council are: Kathleen Ellerbee, Norman Ernst, Elizabeth Naya, and Mike Rome. Trustees are Michael Lancaster and Cathy VanderVieren. The Finance Chairperson is Darryl Ellerbee.

EMAILED BULLETINS are being sent out by a new service called ButtonDown. The bulletins may be sent to your spam folder as common with bulk emails. If you are not receiving the bulletin as usual, please check your spam folder. You can also sign up again via the form on our website at SaintEdwardTallulah.church

Mass Intentions for the Coming Week

Sat 5:30p In memory of Fred Wyly/Magoun
Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
Sun 9:30a In memory of Lillie “MaMe” Jumonville/family
Mon NO MASS
Tues 9:00a For healing for Patricia Guizeriz/family
Wed 9:00a In memory of Dan Fordice/Rome
Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Bryan Stamey
Fri 5:30p In memory of Becky, Beverly, and Edgar Lancaster/family
Sat 5:30p In memory of deceased members of the Lapentier and Rome families
Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
Sun 9:30a In memory of Madeline Howington/family

Altar Candles this week are burning this week for the special intentions of Margo Corulla

Assistants at Holy Mass

		Acolytes	Lector
8/22	5:30p	-	A Dawson
8/23	9:30a	Annie, Thomas Meyers, and Katelyn	K Collins
8/29	5:30p	-	Farlow/VanderVen
8/30	9:30a	Michael, Finley, and Ashlyn	D Ellerbee

Our Return to the Lord


Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026	$ 2,500
July Budget	$ 10,000
July Collections	$ 10,920
July Expenses	$ 10,378
August Budget	$ 12,500
August 16 Collection	$ 3,034
August to Date	$ 11,818

STEWARDSHIP In today’s readings, St Paul reminds the Romans–and us– that all things come from God. “For from Him and through Him and for Him all things are. Good stewards understand that ALL is gift and share generously the gifts of time, talent, and treasure with which they’ve been blessed.

Community Celebrations

Happy Birthday to Mike McEachan (Aug 27) and Dana Hamilton (Aug 30)

Happy Anniversary to Susan & Johnny Gilfoil (Aug 22), Mary Jane & Sidney Johnson (Aug 26), and Kendra & Dave Collins (Aug 29)

In Our Daily Prayers…

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, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Ann Claire Fordice and her children, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Sug Regan, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan, Mary Trichell

Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Andrew and Chelsea Keene-Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Jessica McCoy (Reynolds), the family of Lee McCoy (Reynolds), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Randy Parker, Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, 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, Will Richardson, Chandler Wood

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.