Introduction to the Celebration
Gospel Notes
21 Sunday C - Narrow Door - Homilies and Stories
Thomas O’Loughlin,
Introduction to the Celebration
We have gathered
here to eat and drink in the company of the Lord. And when we do this we
declare our desire to be gathered to the Lord with a place at the heavenly
banquet. Let us reflect on what we are now doing, and ask the Lord to grant us
forgiveness and a place in the kingdom.
This gospel
reading, whose text is also found in Matthew, concerns exclusion from the
kingdom, and the focus of its teaching is that there is no automatic link
between being part of the people of Israel and a place in the presence of the
Father. The Father can raise up children of Abraham from every place and
people. When heard as part of Luke’s preaching, this was the assurance that the
Gentile converts could share fully in the promises made to Israel.
Introduction to the Celebration
“Think! Think! Think!”
She was hurt over the lack of trust and the “behind the back” comments made by her co-worker. Was the one who brought it to her attention even truly her friend? Her fingers flew over the keyboard with words of defense, explanations and justifications of her own actions. She fought back the tears! She had worked so hard in this place!As her anger and hurt subsided she talked it over with a friend. Her sense of Injustice was real. She did need to address the rumors. Thankfully she had not pressed “send” on her original email. Together with her friend she explored her options. She truly wanted to respond in a way that would honor her Lord and not simply react only to throw more fuel on the fire.
20 Sunday C- Set the Earth on Fire
The scientist-cum-theologian Teilhard de Chardin said: “Some day, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity we shall harness the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world man will have discovered fire.”
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Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration
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Thomas O’Loughlin
Introduction to the Celebration
Dear Friends, each week we gather in union with Jesus, the
Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of the Father, the Word made flesh and listen
to his words, share his table, and join our lives with his great act of
thanksgiving to the Father. But how often do we ask ourselves have we an
adequate image in our minds of who it is we are following as Christians? Today
the readings pull us up short and ask us to deepen our understanding of Jesus.
We often think of Jesus as ‘the man of peace’; but today we hear that he is a
prophet who came to bring division rather than peace. We sometimes reduce our
understanding of Jesus to being some kind of moral teacher with a few ‘general
simple truths’, but today we hear that Jesus, the Son of God, is ‘the pioneer
and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of
God.’ Now, assembled in his presence, let us ask him to give us a deeper
understanding of himself and his good news.
Aug 15: Assumption and Independence
Check out last year’s post at:
There is an old story about a workman on a scaffolding high above the nave of a cathedral who looked down and saw a woman praying before a statue of Mary. As a joke, the workman whispered, "Woman, this is Jesus." The woman ignored him. The workman whispered again, more loudly: "Woman, this is Jesus." Again, the woman ignored him. Finally, he said aloud, "Woman, don't you hear me? This is Jesus." At this point the woman looked up at the crucifix and said, "Be still now, Jesus, I'm talking to your mother." Why do Catholics treasure Marian devotions and doctrines that their non-Catholic brothers and sisters do not? It is because, I think, the Catholic Church is trying to tell the full story, to proclaim the full gospel.
The Gospel of Jesus and Mary
There is an old story about a workman on a scaffolding high above the nave of a cathedral who looked down and saw a woman praying before a statue of Mary. As a joke, the workman whispered, "Woman, this is Jesus." The woman ignored him. The workman whispered again, more loudly: "Woman, this is Jesus." Again, the woman ignored him. Finally, he said aloud, "Woman, don't you hear me? This is Jesus." At this point the woman looked up at the crucifix and said, "Be still now, Jesus, I'm talking to your mother." Why do Catholics treasure Marian devotions and doctrines that their non-Catholic brothers and sisters do not? It is because, I think, the Catholic Church is trying to tell the full story, to proclaim the full gospel.
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