It is not from chance springs every comfort or good gift you enjoy.

"God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured.... ." (Collect, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time).

Sunday of the 22nd week in Ordinary Time. We take our reflection today from the Collect (Opening Prayer) in today's Liturgy. An ancient and constant teaching of the Church states that "Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi." The law of prayer is the law of faith. Also as you pray, so you live. (Lex vivendi).

What difference does it make to you to know that every good thing comes from God? The two concepts that transformed how I relate to God are:

#1 Every good thing comes from God. (James 1: 17).
#2 It is not from chance comes any of our comfort but from God's gracious ordaining. (Cf 2 Corinthians 1: 3).

How have these related concepts transformed my relationship with God? I made a timeline of my life from the earliest years, decade by decade noting all the landmarks I can remember. Today I reviewed one of the decades and was stunned to see a pattern in God's interventions in my life. I exclaimed quietly to myself: "I know these are not accidents."

God’s powerful and loving Providence is one of the sweetest revelations in Sacred Scripture. Make a timeline of your your life and see for yourself how God's Providence works for you.

"You poured down, O God, a generous rain: when your people were starved you gave them new life." (Psalm 68: 10, Responsorial Psalm).

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How did you use your time, talent and treasure?

 “It [the Kingdom of God] will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.  To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away." (Matthew 25: 14 - 15).

Saturday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time. We have another Parable that likens the Kingdom of God as a man who before he set out on a long journey called his trusted stewards and entrusted to them seed money.

The narrative continues: "After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them." (Matthew 25: 19). Some people have problem with Christianity because they reason that if Jesus Christ has not returned in the past 2000 years, He would probably not return. In this Parable of the Kingdom, the Lord Jesus says that the return of the King is after "a long time." God will determine the end of the ages. The Bible warns us: "But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day." (2 Peter 3: 8).

God gives all His children time, talent and treasure. His command is that these gifts be wisely used in the building up of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 36).

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Why did the foolish virgins not bring extra oil?

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise." (Matthew 13: 1-2).

Friday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time. The Gospel of today is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Whenever we hear Jesus say: "The kingdom of heaven will be like...", we need to pay great attention to hear what follows because Jesus has magnificent obsession for the Kingdom of God and structures a lot of His teaching around the topic.

"The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,  but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps." (Matthew 13: 3 - 4).
Why on earth did the foolish virgins not bring extra oil? One probable reason could be: They looked at both the invitation card and program, they both read: "Bridegroom enters the reception hall - 9.00 pm."

The foolish virgins gave no room for delays. What are the lessons from the Parable of the Ten Virgins?
#1 All through the Gospel, Jesus warns that there will be delays in His coming.
#2 Like a well-trained Boys Scout, be prepared at all times. "If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into." (Matthew 24: 43).

Are you prepared for the sudden coming of Jesus? Are you vigilant at all times and praying? Are you strengthening your faith, hope and love through daily consumption of the word of God? What other available means of preparation and grace might you be missing?

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How St John the Baptist became a martyr.

“I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” (Mark 6: 25).

Thursday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Martyrdom of St John the Baptist. St John the Baptist was called from the womb to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus. Our Scripture reflection today is drawn from the narrative of how John ended his life as a martyr: Mark 6: 17 - 29.

King Herod had John beheaded because of sexual immortality.  King David killed Uriah for the same sin. King Henry VIII executed many of his wives and gave two great martyrs to the Church of England: the Bishop St John Fisher and the great statesman, St Thomas More.

There are a number of lessons to be drawn from the Gospel of today:

#1 Beware of sexual sin. It is addictive. It does not end well.
#2 If you have a prophetic vocation, be resolved to go where God sends you and to proclaim fully everything God wants you to say. John the Baptist did this.
#3 Under no circumstances must you fear those who kill the body and can do no more. Fear God who can destroy your body and soul.

"I spoke, O Lord, of your decrees before kings, and was not confounded; I pondered your commands and loved them greatly." (Cf Psalm 119:
119: 46 - 47).

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Feast of St Augustine, son of St Monica.

"You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom." (1 Thessalonians 2: 11 - 12).

Wednesday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Augustine (354 - 430). St Augustine, son of St Monica (feast day, yesterday August 27th) was Bishop, Father of the Church and Doctor of the Church. He is probably the most intelligent and most quoted writer in the history of the Church. His best known works are THE CONFESSIONS and THE CITY OF GOD both still popular classics.

Compare the Scripture from the first Reading today chosen to commemorate the life of St Augustine and that of Monica yesterday:

"You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom." (1 Thessalonians 2: 11 - 12).

For Monica:

"We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.  With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us." (1 Thessalonians 2: 7 - 8).

Like mother, like son. Monica tutored Augustine into the Faith and inculcated in him a strong pastoral instinct.

"O God, You have made us for Yourself. Our hearts are restless till they rest in You." Most quoted phrase from St Augustine. Still true!
St Augustine, pray for us.

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St Monica, the holy mother of St Augustine.

"We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.  With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us." (1 Thessalonians 2: 7 - 8).

Tuesday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Monica, the mother of the great St Augustine. Here is what the Church says of St Monica (331 - 387). "Born in Tagaste in Africa, she was the mother of St Augustine. For many years she prayed and suffered for his conversion, never ceasing to believe in the power of grace to move. She is the patroness of married women and a model for Christian mothers." (Roman Missal).

The tears of Monica moved God to convert her son Augustine, Monica's pagan husband, Patricius and her grandson.

Monica lived out completely our Scripture verse for today: "We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.  With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us."

We too can become great light in the Household of God if we can live and apply the above Scripture.

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The unlearned Apostles proclaimed the Gospel with incredible boldness and confidence.

"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me." (John 10: 27 Gospel Acclamation).

Monday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time. Our word of life today comes from the Gospel Acclamation of today's Liturgy.

How do you know that the voice you listen to at your church is the voice of the Good Shepherd, the Lord? There are many voices out there claiming to speak for the Lord. The message of the Gospel promulgated by 12 simple uneducated men (Apostles) who had never left Palestine conquered the mighty Roman Empire because it is true and utterly reliable.

The messenger delivered the message entrusted to him with absolute confidence and full assurance of the unshakeable certainty of the hope of eternal life: The bottom line of the Good News. People who heard them said to themselves: "These men are credible. Their teaching is clear with no ambiguities. These messengers are reliable and worthy of full confidence." These early converts to Christianity knew that YES to Jesus might mean an early death. The voice of the Good Shepherd is compelling.

This is how Paul summarized the above reflection:
"For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true." (1 Thessalonians 1: 5 NTL).

Does your pastor sound like the Good Shepherd?

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