This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, August 29th is from Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23.
“So the Pharisees and scribes questioned [Jesus], ‘Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?’ He responded, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. He summoned the crowd again and said to them, ‘Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.’”
“Jesus paints a vivid picture of hypocrisy. It is not that what we say is unimportant, but it is not nearly as important as our impulses and motivations within our hearts.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Autumn 2021
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 1 Thes 4:13-18; Luke 4:16-30
Tuesday 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11; Luke 4:31-37
Wednesday Col 1:1-8; Luke 4:38-44
Thursday Col 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11
Friday Col 1:15-20; Luke 5:33-39
Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – “Born to a wealthy Roman family, Gregory served as chief magistrate of Rome but resigned to become a monk. While still a deacon, he served as papal ambassador to Constantinople. Later he was elected abbot of his monastery and then pope. His writings include works on the duties of bishops and guidelines for pastoral ministry, homilies, scriptural commentary, and works promoting the liturgy (Gregorian chant is named after him). He was known as “the Great” for his charity, his sense of justice, his protection of Jewish rights, and his political diplomacy.
Saturday Col 1:21-23; Luke 6:1-5
SOURCE: Living With Christ, August 2021 and September 2021
“The sacred scriptures grow with the one who reads them.”
—Pope St. Gregory the Great