August 23-30, 2026

 

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Our upcoming scriptures for consideration this next weekend are:  Jeremiah 20: 7-9; Psalm 63: Romans 12: 1-2; and Matthew 16; 21-27.  These readings are very challenging.  The first one has Jeremiah powerfully regretting his call to be a prophet and then realizing that his call is an interior "burning" within his person and that he must respond to God's call.  The account from Romans 12 speaks of offering our total selves to God as a "living sacrifice" to God.  The problem with that for us is that we (as living sacrifices) always want to crawl off God's altar.  And the gospel is the strong conclusion to last weekend's gospel that has asked us along with St. Peter, "Who do we say Jesus is?"  It presents Jesus saying 'yes', that He indeed is the Christ, but that He must endure His passion and face the torture of the cross.  Peter says, 'God forbid!' to which Jesus responds 'Get behind me, Satan!'.  Then He tells us that we too must deny ourselves and embrace 'the cross'.  All of these readings fit together and are a deep challenge to us Christians in this troublesome age. 

Here in Columbia, MO, our schools, colleges and university are beginning their semester.  We lift in prayer all our teachers, students.

Chapel Schedule
Noon Tuesday Eucharist (August 25), Fr. John presiding
Noon Thursday Eucharist (August 27), Fr. Jim presiding
5 pm Saturday Eucharist (August 29), Fr. Jim presiding

SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS
"If we truly think of Christ as our source of holiness, we shall refrain from anything wicked or impure in thought or act and thus show ourselves to be worthy bearers of His name.  For the quality of holiness is shown not by what we say but by what we do in life."  St Gregory of Nyssa

"The most resplendent manifestation of God's glory is the salvation of souls, whom Christ redeemed by shedding His blood.  To work for the salvation and sanctification of as many souls as possible,, therefore, is the preeminent purpose of the aposolic life."  St. Maximilllian Kolbe ofm

"Jesus is my kingdom.  If He is all I have, I shall have everything.  If I don't have Him, I lose everything."    San Luis obispo ofm, (known to us in English as St. Louis of Anjou, a Franciscan bishop)

Blessing to all.  Carry Jesus Christ in you and with you wherever you go. Remember that we are often the only Gospel that people encounter.

Fr. John, OFP

 

 

Pontifications by Fr. Jim McNeely