TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Nineteen years ago on Tuesday, September 11, I remember being comforted by the liturgical year and its readings for September 13, the Memorial of St Bishop John Chrysostom, September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and September 15, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, which, by the way, is the feast day of our parish family. It was as if the Lord’s heart, broken open by our suffering, wanted to reach out to us in a powerful way.

On the Memorial of Bishop John Chrysostom, which is today, the Second Reading in the Office of Readings for today (when it does not fall on a Sunday) is one of Bishop John’s homilies. By the way, the Greek Chrysostom means golden-mouthed.

“The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it…Will Jesus be absent, then, when so many people united in love are gathered together? I have his promise; I am surely not going to rely on my own strength! I have what he has written; that is my staff, my security, my peaceful harbor… I hold to his promise and read his message…Know that I am with you always, until the end of the world.!

Happy Sunday!

Father Bill +