25th Sunday of the Year (a)
This Week’s Liturgy Calendar.
Ordinary Season of the Year. (a)
Weekdays – Year 2
Sunday 21st September: Twenty-Fifth Sunday of the Year. (a)
In the first reading, from the Prophet Isaiah, we are reminded that God’s wisdom and goodness are far beyond our understanding.
In the second reading, from the Letter to the Philippians, St. Paul, writing from prison, tried to put into words what Jesus means to him. He is thinking of his own death and longing for complete union with Christ.
The Gospel passage presents us with a scene where Jesus is talking about the generosity of God that is far beyond anything we know.
Monday 22nd September: Monday of the 25th week of the year.
We turn to the Old Testament for the next series of readings. The first reading is from the Book of Proverbs. Some of these were from the sayings of Solomon – the wise son of David. We are reminded never to refuse kindness, never to plot harm and never to pick a quarrel. The virtuous will receive many blessings.
Jesus continues his parables. We are reminded we are called to witness to the world the faith we have received and not to keep it to ourselves.
Tuesday 23rd September: Memorial of St. Pius Pietrelcina.
Fransesco Forgione, the future Padre Pio, was born on 25th May 1887 in Pietrelcina, Southern Italy. At the age of fifteen he entered the Capuchin novitiate at Morcone and was ordained at the age of 23. Due to his frail health, he lived outwith the monastic community, always wearing the distinctive habit. He was sent to San Giovanni Rotondo for a short stay. In fact he spent the rest of his life there. In September 1918, the signs of the stigmata appeared after he had celebrated Mass. These wounds bled continually for fifty years and caused him acute physical pain. Despite this, he made himself available to thousands of people who came to him seeking advice and confession. He died on 23rd September 1968 and was canonised by Pope John Paul on 16th June 2002.
Wednesday 24th September: Wednesday of the 25th week of the year.
We have, today, the third and final extract from the Book of Proverbs. It stresses that God can only be known through faith and not by reason alone. We need to use and develop both faith and reason in our lives to grow in our relationship with God.
Having spent time with them and prayed with them Jesus now sends the apostles out to carry on his work and in his name. They wire to be proclaimers of the Good news.
Thursday 25th September: Thursday of the 25th week of the year.
Today the first reading comes from the Book of Wisdom or Ecclesiastes. It is a reminder of the uselessness of human things. They will deceive anyone who puts their trust in them.
Jesus’ teaching is causing growing concern and anger amongst the authorities. The plotting against him begins to grow.
Friday 26th September: Friday of 25th week of the year.
The first reading is from the Book of Ecclesiasticus. The words are very familiar since they were made into a song. It is a reminder of how little the human mind can understand of God’s ways. They are too much for us to grasp in their entirety.
The Gospel repeats a recent Sunday Gospel when the apostles are asked about their understanding of who Jesus is. Eventually Peter proclaims Jesus to be ‘The Christ of God.’
Saturday 27th September: Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul.
Vincent was born in Gascogny in France in 1580. He was ordained a priest and eventually settled in Paris where he spent the rest of his life, looking after the poor. In 1633, he gathered a group of like-minded men around him, which would become the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). Along with Louise de Marillac he founded the Daughters of Charity who engaged in works of charity and care among the poor also. They preached parish missions and worked in the seminaries. Vincent died in 1660. He is venerated as the patron of all charitable societies.
Always remember there are two types of people in this world.
Those who come into a room and say, “Well, here I am!”
and those who come in and say,
“Ah, there you are!”
