Saints + Scripture: XXIV Sunday in Tempus per annum

'Tis the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-seven, verse thirty thru chapter twenty-eight, verse seven;
Psalm One Hundred Three (R/. eight), verses one & two; three & four; eight, nine, & ten; & eleven & twelve;
The Letter to the Romans, chapter fourteen, verses seven, eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses twenty-one thru thirty-five.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable that illustrates God’s mercy. The Latin word for mercy is misericordia, which designates the suffering of the heart, or compassion—cum patior (I suffer with).

Mercy is identical to what the Old Testament authors refer to as God’s hesed or tender mercy. It is the characteristic of God, for God is love. The love that obtains among the Trinitarian persons spills over into God’s love for the world that he has made.

Think of a mother’s love for her children. Could you ever imagine a mother becoming indifferent to one of her offspring? But even should she forget, we read in the prophet Isaiah, God will never forget his own. Consider the fact that nothing would exist were it not willed into being by God. But God has no need of anything; hence, his sustaining of the universe is an act of disinterested love and tender mercy.

There is no greater manifestation of the divine mercy than the forgiveness of sins. When G.K. Chesterton was asked why he became a Catholic, he answered, “To have my sins forgiven.” This is the greatest grace the Church can offer: reconciliation, the restoration of the divine friendship, the forgiveness of our sins.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U. S. C. of Catholic Bishops): Sunday Reflection.

Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): Sunday Sermon.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

†

Otherwise, 13 September would be the festival of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (circa 347-407), thirty-seventh (XXXVII) Archbishop of Constantinople (398-405), also a Father of the Church: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Constantinople, Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors, & Fathers-link & Wikipedia-link Fathers.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Amatus of Grenoble, Abbot (circa 560-629, also spelt Ame), inaugural abbot of Remiremont Abbey (620-629): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Remiremont.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Venerius of Tino, Abbot (circa 560-630, A.K.A. the Hermit), abbot of a monastery on the island of Tino: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Tino.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Amatus of Sion, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (died 690, also spelt Aimé), Bishop of Sion (669-690), abbot of the Abbey of Saint Maurice: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sion & Wikipedia-link Bishops, & Wikipedia-link Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed William Boyton, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (died 1647), martyred by Protestant "Roundheads" (Parliamentarians), one of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link; Martyrs-link Éire & Wikipedia-link Éire.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Maria Luisa Angelica, Virgin & Abbess, O.S.B. (1799-1847, A.K.A. Gertrude Prosperi), abbess of the convent of Santa Lucia in Trevi (1837-1847): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Insist that your priests & those who collaborate with them in the liturgical service make ever more & more progress. Let them enhance the dignity of the celebration, the quality of the readings, & the beauty of the singing."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels & archangels standing by you, & trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven & earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, & veneration."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (347-407, feast: 13 September)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering. The pain we witness can be overwhelming. The suddenly, the Spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call & answer with extraordinary love."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Say to yourself over & over again regardless of what happens: 'God loves me!' And then add: 'And I will try to love Him!'"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)