"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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"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 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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"Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12: 7).

Sunday of the 21st week in Ordinary Time. My paper castle was tumbling right and left when I heard our Scripture for today in a Sunday Mass at the beginning of my second journey of faith. It was sweet music to my ears. I was happy because I knew for sure that somebody was aware of where I was and what I was suffering.

Whatever trial you may be going through at the moment, our Scripture for today is certainly a word of knowledge and comfort. A sage said: "Correct thought is the key to correct action." This is the great gift God bestows on us in His word: "The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword." (Hebrews 4: 12).

David is happy because the Lord disciplines him. The Apostle James writes: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1: 2 - 4).
"Those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines."

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"Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (John 1: 45).

Saturday of the 20th week in Ordinary Time is the Feast of the Apostle Bartholomew. Bartholomew who is the same as Nathaniel was introduced to Jesus by his friend Philip. Jesus said of him: "There is no duplicity in him." What an accurate description of a man who was not keen to meet Jesus because he believed "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Be that as it may, Jesus praised Bartholomew when the two men shook hands and Jesus accepted him as one of the 12 Apostles.

This interesting episode gives us food for thought: Is the Lord Jesus waiting for you to bring that friend to Him? Invite him to Mass? To enter the RCIA? Go to Confession? Regularize her marriage?

The response of those who are called and anointed should be:
"I will bear witness to You in the world O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of Your name among my brothers and sisters." (Psalm 17: 50 ; 21:23).

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“Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1: 16).

Friday of the 20th week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Rose of Lima, Virgin. (1586 - 1617). Great beauty and talent but gave up all for the love of Jesus. The Lord rewarded her devotion by making her the first canonized saint in the Americas.

Our key Scripture for today are the brave words of Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  Unknown to Ruth, she had been chosen to be the great grandmother of King David and to become one of the three women in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ.

What can we learn from the character of Ruth? A spirit of sacrifice, hard work, loyalty and faithfulness. Although a stranger to the monotheistic religion of Israel, she no doubt fulfilled the ancient law enunciated by Jesus in our Gospel of today: "You shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself." (Cf Matthew 22: 34 - 40).

"Teach me your paths, my God,
guide me in your truth." (Psalm 25: 4, 5).

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