Word for the Weekend - September 20

It's been a busy week and I'm at least a day late in posting this weekend's scriptures and background on them to help us prepare to hear the Lord's Word on this coming 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. (When you consider that there are but 34 weeks in Ordinary Time, it's a bit unsettling to know that Advent is just around the corner!) If you'll be shepherding some young ones to church this weekend, here's some help for preparing them to hear the Word.


In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus embraces a child and tells his friends, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” This scene is preceded, however, by another prediction of his suffering and death and it's that element that drove the choice for the day's first reading from the Book of Wisdom in which the wicked plot the torture and death of the Just One.

The second lesson, from the Letter of James, speaks directly to jealousy and ambition in our lives and in our society with others - a kind of implicit examination of conscience or personal inventory of our motives.

Take even 5 minutes to look over the texts so that you don't hear them "cold" at Mass this weekend. And you might even take one more second to click on the link above and peek at the background on these scriptures. Your experience of the Word and your prayer will be richer on the Lord's Day for having done a little homework!

Image: FanPop

-ConcordPastor