09/01 ~ Kariin Timmons

09/02 ~ Gloria Johnson

09/04 ~ Thelma Neal

09/05 ~ Stanley Glover, III

09/06 ~ George Strother

09/08 ~ Shelton Jones

09/09 ~ Terence Holland Smith

09/10 ~ Erica Miller

09/18 ~ Veronica Archer and Isaiah Goodwyn

09/21 ~ Duane Brannon, Jr and Maxine Harvey

09/23 ~ Maria Barrow

09/24 ~ Marla Strother

09/30 ~ Valerie Smith

The Narrow Door ~ Meditation on the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

The Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Is 66:18-21

Ps 117:1, 2

Heb 12:5-y, 11-13

Lk 13:22-30

In today's Gospel reading  from Luke, Jesus is asked if only a few people will be saved.  He doesn't answer directly but implies that we should strive to enter through the narrow door.

Why a narrow door?  What's the significance of this narrow door?  Why is it so difficult to enter and where does it lead?
 
The narrow door is Jesus, and it is through our belief in Jesus as Redeemer and Son of the Father, that we are able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  If we are burdened down by selfishness, hatred, jealousy and pride, we do not have the strength to go through the narrow door.  We have to leave our burden of sin behind and live our lives focused on the Lord.

The prophet Isaiah foretells that God will gather people from all over the world, of every language and nation; and they will see God's glory and will proclaim Him to others.  These people will recognize God's glory and will believe.  Thus, not only a few will be saved, but all who believe and who have left their burden of sin will go through the narrow door.

I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me.

And what of those who have not heard of the Lord?  We rely on and trust in God's mercy and compassion.


Image source: St. Mary's Catholic Parish Newsletter, Maryborough

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"Persevere in running the race that lies before us" ~ A Reflection on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Jer 38:4-6, 8-10

Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18 (14b)

Heb 12:1-4

Lk 12:49-53

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews realized that life is not always a bed of roses.  We find ourselves in turmoil from relationships that have been broken; we learn that we have major health problems that will not be easily resolved; we may find ourselves and our family homeless and hungry... and sometimes we can barely cope with the life that God has given us to live.

In Luke's Gospel, we find Jesus reminding us of this very thing when he declares that he has not come to establish peace on the earth.  Instead, he speaks of division:  division among families, division among individuals.  These divisions will come about because not everyone is going to accept and believe in him as the Anointed One of God.  There will be strife and misunderstanding and people will die because of it.

We read in the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, how he was thrown into the cistern to suffocate and die in the mud there, because his enemies wanted to be rid of him.  However, one of the court officials brought his plight to the attention of the king and Jeremiah was released and saved from death.  We must never give up hope...    

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. To remember how he endured the cross for the sake of the joy of the Resurrection.  That despite what we also may have to endure in life, we hope and trust that the Lord will be there for us too.  The psalmist recognized that the Lord hears our cries and responds...

"He drew me out of the pit of darkness...

...he put a new song into my mouth...
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the Lord thinks of me.

...You are my help and my deliverer..."     

   


~ Image Source - Silhouette of woman trail running, Colorado by Bob Winsett

Gospel Song for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,

The time is drawing nigh.

Children, don't get weary,

Children, don't get weary,

Children, don't get weary,

'Til your work is done.

Christian journey soon be over,

Christian journey soon be over,

Christian journey soon be over,

The time is drawing nigh.

~ Image Source: The American Vision.org

St. Elizabeth Jazz and Food Festival - August 3, 2013 ~ Photos by Ethel Cooley

St. E's Food and Jazz Festival 2013 (Part 2) ~ Photos by Ethel Cooley

Meditation on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Here there is not Greek and Jew,

Circumcision and uncircumcision,

barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;

but Christ is all and in all.

Col 3:11

~ Image Source:  David + Jonathan Inc

August Birthdays at St. E's ~ Provided by Ethel Cooley

08/03 ~ Ashanti Williams

08/04 ~ Jackson (Cooper) Stell

08/07 ~ Mary Jaquez

08/09 ~ Tonya Jones, Peter Thompson and Mieko Timmons

08/10 ~ Walker Bland

08/11 ~ Christopher Jaquez

08/12 ~ Daphne Sylvester

08/18 ~ Jolynn Smith

08/20 ~ Paulette Wright

08/21 ~ Vincent Cotman, Jr and Sam Tindall

08/25 ~ Lyric Weston

08/26 ~ Candido Antomattei and Tracey Hall