Un-Quiet Word for Today, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
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"For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
(Luke 13, 30)
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One of the most frequent spiritual temptations or maladies even in very good people is 'being judgmental' - when we are quick to dismiss or despise, compare and put down or write off the other as 'less or useless, inadequate'. If one does not tame being judgmental, it can spin out of control and lead one to a very disastrous spiritual vice/malady, that is 'pride'.
There is an African proverb that says, “If you are filled with pride, you have no room for wisdom.” Another says, “The downfall of man begins with pride.”
The people of Israel make a big mistake and fall into the trap of pride. The nation of Israel thought of itself as 'the chosen people'. They are 'number one', yet what does being number one really mean in the eyes of God?
Being number one might be the measure of success in the business and social world, but this is the opposite in the kingdom: to be faithful is to be number one. To put the word of God that we hear into practice is the premier criterion to enter the kingdom of God.
The exile experience in the first reading is a lesson in the school of hard knocks for the Israelites, who have forgotten who they are. 'Exile' in the Old Testament was a purifying fire. In exile, the Israelites were stripped of the merit, status, privilege and all exclusiveness they presumed they had. They come to find out that they are at the same level with the foreigners they despised. Also, that God was not exclusive to them only. He is a gatherer of all nations. All are 'special' to Him. They find that there are as good of people among the foreigners as they were within their own communities. So what mattered then was being faithful to God and putting his Word into practice more than anything else.
The second reading is centered around the word 'discipline'. A father must discipline a child after which they realize the benefits of joy. To be better, we must often go through the 'hard way'.
How does one enter the kingdom of God? What is the criterion ? Is it merit, status, privilege, position, or place? No! It is in 'making yourself little’.
Jesus describes the real scene at the entrance of the city of Jerusalem. There was indeed a large/wider entrance, and it was jammed with pilgrims with camels and lots of baggage. There were however smaller doors open, that gave someone access if they traveled lightly.
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.’
Beware, there will be a reversal of things!
To be faithful is to be number one. To put into practice the word of God that we hear, which implies to serve others is what gets one into the kingdom.
Hence the challenge is to see work as a service.
Meet the needs of others. Ask what it implies to put into practice the Word of God. It is not about all talk, not all about show. Strip away what gets in the way.
Fr. Anthony Mpagi,
Pastor of Our Lady of Hope
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All About The Mass
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Readings of the Mass
LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of August 21st, 2022, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.
SELECT HERE for the Readings of August 21st, 2022, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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Symbols and Signs of the Liturgy by Fr. Derek
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The Stole and the ChasubleThe priest's stole is the preeminent sign of the priest's authority to administer the sacraments in the person of Christ, which is a pure gift from God given to him at his ordination. When he puts the stole on, he prays, "Lord, restore the stole of immortality, which I lost through the collusion of our first parents, and, unworthy as I am to approach Thy sacred mysteries, may I yet gain eternal joy." Although the practice of crossing the stole over the priest's chest so that it makes the shape of Saint Andrew's Cross has fallen out of widespread practice in recent times, the priest may still choose to vest in this way. The priest who wears his stole this way is reminded that he must carry his cross and the many intentions and needs of those souls under his priestly care to the Altar of God and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
As the priest puts on the chasuble, he prays, "O Lord, who has said, ‘My yoke is sweet and My burden light,’ grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace." Thus, lest the priest think he must carry all these intentions of so many people to the altar on his own, he is reminded that he does all things by the grace and charity of God as he puts on the chasuble, which is the symbol of priestly charity. The chasuble is two-sided, representing the two sides of perfect charity, love of God and love of neighbor. It is
worth noting that, even with some styles of vestments made this way in the last half-century, the stole is never to be worn over the chasuble, since the priest should never cover his charity with authority, but quite the opposite. The chasuble is worn over all other vestments because charity is the highest virtue.
- Fr. Derek Mobilio
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About the Mass
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