Announcements
Sunday, September 24th - 14th Sunday after Pentecost - St St Pius X, PC
Monday, September 25th - Feria - St Rose of Viterbo, V
Tuesday, September 26th - St Lawrence Justinian, BC
Wednesday, September 27th - Feria - St Eleutherius, Ab
Thursday, September 28th - Feria - St Cloud, C
Friday, September 29th - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - St Adrian, M
Saturday, September 30th - St Peter Claver - St Gorgonius, M
Sunday, October 1st - 15th Sunday after Pentecost - St Nicholas of Tolentino, C
- Coffee and Doughnuts: Join us in the St Joseph Hall after Mass! Please donate $1 per item and 5$ for burritos.
- Catechism Classes: For students who are preparing for receiving the sacraments after Mass today.
- Choir Practice: In the upstairs classroom at 8:45 for the 9:30 a.m. Mass.
Meditation on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost
From The Year Made Holy by Msgr Matthias Premm
In the Collect, we pray for a stainless way of life: "Grant that thy people may escape the defilement of the devil and with a clean mind follow thee, the only God." Only thus are we truly God's people, and only thus is Christ our Lord and King.
In the Epistle, the Apostle of the Gentiles, too, adjures us to do that which we have just prayed for: "Walk worthy of the vocation [of Christians] in which you are called... with patience... careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." Here too, as presently in the Gospel, the great commandment of charity is placed in the foreground. In order to implant deep in us observance of the commandment to love our neighbor, Paul, in a masterly exposition, even gives the reason why we must love one another from our hearts. It is because, precisely between us Christians, there exists a sevenfold bond of union: We are (1) one body; (2) this body is animated by the one Holy Spirit; (3) we have one goal, namely heaven; (4) we have one and the same Lord, Jesus Christ, the Head of the one body; (5) one and the same Faith; (6) by the same sacraments (baptism, the Eucharist, etc.) we are welded into one community; (7) we all look up to one and the same God the Father in heaven.
If this unity and charity really reigns among us Christians, then we are indeed a "blessed nation whose God is the Lord!" (Gradual). And if the mere unity of God's family on earth has so much that is heart-stirring about it, how wondrously blessed then will be the unity if heaven to which we all look forward with yearning! So the Alleluia becomes a yearning cry of the bride of Christ to her loving Lord: "O Lord, hear my prayer; and let my cry come unto thee. Alleluia!"
Then in the Gospel the Savior too speaks of the twofold commandment of charity. He designates love of our neighbor as a main commandment, coming directly after love of God. By it we become one people, Christ's people. More difficult to understand is the second part of the Gospel. But one thing immediately strikes us all: Christ here affords us a picture of Himself, seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven; that is to say, the transfigured Christ stands before us, the object of all our longing. As Son of God, He is also the Lord of King David, yes, of all kings and powers of all ages of the world. At His second coming He will see the enemies of the Church as a footstool at His feet. "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth” (Mt. 28:19). This majestic picture of Christ lights up with consolation the darkness of this earthly life, and, in their afflictions, Christians of all ages look with constant yearning in Christ, “who sitteth at the right hand of the Father."
Recessional Hymn
I clasp unto my heart this day The shielding strength of the Trinity,
By calling on its mystic Name, The Three in One, The One in Three;
Through Whom all nature was created, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
I praise Thee, God, of my Salvation, Salvation won by Christ the Lord.
I clasp unto my heart this day With steadfast faith, Our Lord made man,
And Him baptized in Jordan's flood, His Cross of death, Salvation's plan;
His rising from the enclosing tomb, His bright ascent to Heaven's way,
His coming on the day of doom, I clasp unto my heart this day.