22nd Sunday of the Year (a)
Ordinary Season of the Year. (a)
Weekdays – Year 1
Sunday 3rd September: Twenty-Second Sunday of the Year. (a)
In the first reading, Jeremiah describes the difficulties preaching the word brought to him. He was mocked and ridiculed. His faith in God and his word gave him strength to carry on.
Paul talks of his belief that we must offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. He stresses that we should not follow the crowd and its ideologies but follow the teaching of Jesus.
Jesus himself warns of the suffering discipleship will demand if we are true disciples. He foretells his own suffering and death and stresses his disciples will need to follow his example.
Monday 4th September: Feast of St. Cuthbert.
Today is the Feast of St. Cuthbert, the patron saint of our parish. He was born in 635 and entered the monastery in Melrose when he was 17. He became known as a preacher and teacher and travelled around the borders and northeast England. He settled in Lindisfarne (Holy Island) but spent time on Inner Farne, living as a hermit. He became Bishop if Hexham but was unhappy in this role and returned to Lindisfarne where he died. Initially he was buried there but because of the fear of his grave being vandalised, the monks moved his body. His final resting place is Durham cathedral.
Tuesday 5th September : Tuesday of the 22nd week of the year.
The Thessalonians expected Paul to tell them when the second coming of Christ would be. They expected it to be soon. In this last section of his letter, Paul stresses that no one knows when this will happen. In any case, we should be living our lives in such a way that it does not matter. We are to be ready at all times.
The Gospel readings come from St. Luke. We begin with a section recounting events near the beginning of Jesus’ public mission. He is disappointed at the lack of faith in his own neighbourhood but is amazed at what he finds when he moves away. The people listen and are drawn to his teaching.
Wednesday 6th September: Wednesday of the 22nd week of the year
The first readings come from the Letter to the Colossians. Colossae was a key town on the trade route from Ephesus. Paul is writing to combat some heresies that have sprung up in the town. As usual, he opens the letter by acknowledging the faith of the people.
Jesus’ preaching makes a great impression in the area around Capernaum. He reminds his disciples that they too must travel to preach the Gospel and proclaim the Good News.
Thursday 1st September: Thursday of the 22nd week of the year.
Paul prays for the Colossians. He asks that their faith grow and deepen. He asks that they be strengthened by the power of God and grow in his love and in the love of each other.
Jesus uses the miracle of the great catch of fish to teach the disciples about how they must draw people into the net of God’s love.
Friday 8th September: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We know very little of the early life of Our Lady. Traditionally, we believe that her father and mother were Joachim and Anna. Today’s feast is a feast of Eastern origin and was first celebrated in Jerusalem in the 5th century and introduced to Rome in the 7th century
Saturday 9th September : Saturday of 22nd week of the year.
Paul reminds the Colossians of their old way of life. They must turn away from this now since they have been reconciled by Jesus’ suffering and death. They have to be on guard against temptation.
The Gospel continues the theme from yesterday’s passage where the Pharisees had been trying again to catch Jesus out. He reminds them that the Sabbath is made for the people not the other way round.
In this week of the Feast of St. Cuthbert (4th September)
Let us ask God’s blessing on the people of our Parish that they continue to grow in love of God and each other.
Let us also remember the priests and people of the Parish who served the parish so faithfully and have died and gone to their eternal reward.
May they rest in peace.
St. Cuthbert, pray for us and them.
