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Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time,

Cycle B

Sunday, October 17, 2021

First Reading

Isaiah 53:10-11

Through his suffering, the servant of Yahweh will justify many.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22

A prayer of praise for God’s mercy

Second Reading

Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus is the high priest who sympathizes with our weakness.

Gospel Reading

Mark 10:35-45 (shorter form Mark 10:42-45)

Jesus teaches that those who wish to be great must be the servant of all.

Background on the Gospel Reading

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we continue to read from the section of Mark’s Gospel that reports Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Last Sunday we heard Jesus lament the particular challenges those with many possessions face in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus then predicts his passion to the Twelve, who are amazed and afraid. In this part of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ words to his closest disciples seem to be intended to prepare them for the events that will occur in Jerusalem.

In today’s Gospel, James and John ask to be given seats of honor when Jesus enters into his glory. Once again, the disciples seem to be selective in what they hear Jesus say. They want to share Jesus’ glory, but do not appear to understand that his glory will be preceded by his suffering. Jesus notes their lack of understanding and predicts the suffering they will endure for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus says that the honor they seek is not his to give. When the other ten hear what James and John have asked, Mark reports that they are indignant. Jesus takes the opportunity to teach them.

Jesus explains the importance of service and sacrifice in the life of a disciple. In particular, he seems to be preparing the Twelve for their leadership roles in the emerging Christian community. Echoing the Gospel we heard several weeks ago (on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 9:33-37), Jesus acknowledges that his teaching is countercultural. In today’s Gospel, Jesus contrasts the dynamics within the community of disciples with those shown by the rulers of the Gentiles.

Following Jesus’ example of sacrificial love continues to be countercultural in our day as well. We might take this opportunity to consider our models of authority and examine our own exercise of authority. On whose example do we model our leadership? Layola Press

Gather around the Table

This week as our family celebrated several special occasions, I noticed something. There is something special that happens when my family comes together. The one place we always gather in our home. Our kitchen table. Our kitchen table is the hub of all activity in our house. No matter what is going on we always somehow end up at the kitchen table. Looking back, I thought of some fond memories at the table. While celebrating new events this week making memories at the kitchen table was inevitable. Then, of course I couldn’t help but think about how important this is to our faith. Celebrating at the table. The table of the Lord.

The kitchen in our home growing up was the largest room in our house. It was the location of our big, old wooden table. It was my great uncle’s kitchen table who I believe was also his mother’s (my great, great grandmother) kitchen table. I remember when my parents bought the old table at his farm auction. My daddy really wanted the table. I think he wanted it as he himself had spent many times at the old table growing up. My parents refinished the table in the garage and how happy they were when that project was completed. Once it moved into the house at our farm life happened at that table.

We had every meal around that table. Everyday meals to special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries were spent at the table. My grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors and friends would often sit a spell at our table. They would come for a visit where coffee and cookies were served around the table along with good conversation. School homework and projects along with bill paying were frequently accomplished there. My parents and grandparents played cards on Saturday nights at the table. It is where I learned how to play monopoly and euchre. At Christmas it would be covered in cookies and sweets for gifts for neighbors. Christmas cards were addressed there. Gifts of all kinds were wrapped there; I believe Santa even wrapped a few there. All life in our house happened there. We gathered around the kitchen table to share our lives with each other just as we do the Table of the Lord.

For me it was a great place to practice my faith. Before and after every meal we thanked God for the blessing of food and each other. The importance of respecting life as we celebrated birthdays. Caring for each other with letters and cards written there. The joining of families as our family grew. The telling of family traditions and keeping them alive with each generation. All the while under the picture of the Last Supper. Christ was at our table. The Holy Spirit moving between us. God loving everyone there. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit constantly there among us.



As an adult my table has changed but the importance of gathering around the table is the same. Our family table from our farm resides in New Mexico now where my brother lives with his family. New memories being made there. My kitchen table is in the biggest room in my home, the kitchen, just like how I grew up. We gather every night for supper there. Sharing our day. We celebrate birthdays together there. Traditions continue around my table. The faith grows around my table. Family and friends visit and enjoy each other’s company at our table. It really is something when you contemplate the significance of the family table in our lives to the Table of the Lord. Both places where we are refreshed, nourished, and loved. J. Geeting 

November 1, All Saint's Day,

 is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation this year.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint of the Day for October 15

(March 28, 1515 – October 4, 1582)

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Saint of the Day for October 16

(July 22, 1647 – October 17, 1690)

Margaret Mary was chosen by Christ to arouse the Church to a realization of the love of God symbolized by the heart of Jesus.

Her early years were marked by sickness and a painful home situation. “The heaviest of my crosses was that I could do nothing to lighten the cross my mother was suffering.” After considering marriage for some time, Margaret Mary entered the Order of the Visitation nuns at the age of 24. On December 21, 1674, three years a nun, she received the first of her revelations. She felt “invested” with the presence of God, though always afraid of deceiving herself in such matters. The request of Christ was that his love for humankind be made evident through her. During the next 13 months, Christ appeared to her at intervals. His human heart was to be the symbol of his divine-human love. By her own love Margaret Mary was to make up for the coldness and ingratitude of the world—by frequent and loving Holy Communion, especially on the first Friday of each month, and by an hour’s vigil of prayer every Thursday night in memory of his agony and isolation in Gethsemane. He also asked that a feast of reparation be instituted. After serving as novice mistress and assistant superior, Margaret Mary died at the age of 43, while being anointed. She said: “I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.”

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Saint of the Day for October 17

(d. c. 107)

Ignatius’s great concern was for the unity and order of the Church. Even greater was his willingness to suffer martyrdom rather than deny his Lord Jesus Christ. He did not draw attention to his own suffering, but to the love of God which strengthened him. He knew the price of commitment and would not deny Christ, even to save his own life.

Saint Luke

Saint of the Day for October 18

(d. c. 84)

Luke, the writer of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, has been identified with St. Paul's "Luke, the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). We know few other facts about Luke's life from Scripture and from early Church historians.

It is believed that Luke was born a Greek and a Gentile. In Colossians 10-14 speaks of those friends who are with him. He first mentions all those "of the circumcision" -- in other words, Jews -- and he does not include Luke in this group. Luke's gospel shows special sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles. It is only in his gospel that we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan, that we hear Jesus praising the faith of Gentiles such as the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian (Lk.4:25-27), and that we hear the story of the one grateful leper who is a Samaritan (Lk.17:11-19). According to the early Church historian Eusebius Luke was born at Antioch in Syria.

Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions

Saints of the Day for October 19

(d. 1642 – 1649)

Isaac Jogues and his companions were the first martyrs of the North American continent officially recognized by the Church. 

By 1632, the Jesuits had a mission center in Quebec, where they ministered to 20,000 Huron in 30 villages. The missionaries suffered from cold and heat and were not accustomed to the Huron culture. When the “black robes” arrived, Huron children ran to their mothers, afraid that they were sorcerers. The missionaries were blamed for a smallpox epidemic. Still, they tried to bring the faith to the native people, educate them, and teach them medical and agricultural skills. John de Brébeuf founded schools and wrote a catechism and dictionary in the Huron language. He was once condemned to death but spoke so well that he was spared. Noel Chabanel, a language professor, could barely stutter out Huron phrases. The food and life of the Huron repulsed him, but he vowed to stay. Rene Goupil and John de Lalande, lay missioners, worked without pay. Charles Garnier sometimes walked 40 miles to baptize one child.

The missionaries converted about two thousand converts in their many years in Quebec. Then the enemies of the Huron, the Iroquois, who resented the French, captured and tortured the missionaries. Rene Goupil was tomahawked while trying to baptize a baby. Anthony Daniel was at Mass when the Iroquois attacked, shot arrows at him, and threw him into the fire. Isaac Jogues was made a slave but escaped back to France. His left hand had been mutilated, but Pope Urban VIII allowed him to celebrate Mass, saying, “It would be a shame that a martyr of Christ not drink the blood of Christ.” Isaac Jogues returned to America. On a peace mission to the Iroquois for the governor of New France, he was accused of bringing a bad harvest. The Iroquois thought his box of religious goods contained the plague. He was attacked and killed. The Indian who killed him was later baptized and took the name Isaac. The sufferings of the missionaries are the seeds of the Church.

Saint Paul of the Cross

Saint of the Day for October 20

(January 3, 1694 – October 18, 1775)

Chase all gloominess from your heart, and, even if you do something wrong, don’t get upset, since that would do even more harm than the wrongdoing. Instead, humble yourself gently, asking God’s pardon, decide that you will do better in future and joyfully continue on your way.

St. Paul of the Cross

Saint Hilarion

Saint of the Day for October 21

(c. 291 – 371)

We can learn the value of solitude from Saint Hilarion. Unlike loneliness, solitude is a positive condition in which we are alone with God. In today’s busy and noisy world, we could all use a little solitude.

Hilarion is celebrated as the founder of monasticism in Palestine. Much of his fame flows from the biography of him written by Saint Jerome.

October is Respect Life Month! This year, we are focusing on St. Joseph, defender of life. His unhesitating adherence to God’s will as he faithfully and lovingly protected the Christ Child and the Blessed Mother bears witness to our own call as Christians.

Visit https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month to see how you can get involved.

"I invite everyone to rediscover, especially during this month of October, the beauty of the prayer of the rosary, which has nourished the faith of the Christian people through the centuries,"

"I invite you to pray the rosary, and to carry it in your hands or in your pockets. The recitation of the rosary is the most beautiful prayer we can offer to the Virgin Mary; it is a contemplation on the stages of the life of Jesus the Savior with his Mother Mary and is a weapon that protects us from evils and temptations," Pope Francis 

Join us daily(Monday - Friday) at 8:00 am

to pray the rosary together.

Also after the 8:30 am Mass on Wednesdays

for the Patriotic Rosary

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