This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, August 30th is from Matthew 16:21-27.
“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly . . . Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.’ He turned and said to Peter, . . . ‘You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.’ Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’”
“It is difficult not to think as human beings do, as that is who we are, and impossible to know the mind of God. But at least we can appreciate this when we face what seems an impossible burden: there is an unknowable perspective that makes this sensible. Then we can pray for the strength and courage to bear our cross, despite its incomprehensibility.” Source: Pastoral Patterns, Autumn 2020
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 1 Cor 2:1-5; Luke 4:16-30
Tuesday 1 Cor 2:10b-16; Luke 4:31-37
Wednesday 1 Cor 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44
Thursday 1 Cor 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11
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.”
Friday 1 Cor 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39
Saturday 1 Cor 4:6b-15; Luke 6:1-5
Source: Living With Christ, September 2020