Today is the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. There is a danger in all of us that we can pick the pieces of the Gospel that suits us, and leave the hard passages to one side as unpalatable and hard to digest. Today we have such a Gospel. (Matthew 16:21-27) Peter, last Sunday, was praised for his faith. This Sunday he is rebuked. Why? Because he thinks as man thinks and not as God thinks. He wants Jesus to be a political Messiah, a powerful Messiah that can rid his country of the Romans, a popular Messiah in whose glory he would be able to bask. All the readings at Mass today speak of the struggles that are involved in following the path of the Lord. In the first reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9) Jeremiahwith great feeling, accuses the Lord of deceiving him. God had promised to be with him in his difficulties and success. He sees only difficulties. It is hard for him to take! In the second reading(Roman 12:1-2) Paul advises his readers to allow their attitudes to be formed by the Gospel so that their lives may be truly pleasing to the Lord. In the Gospel Jesus declares that the way to glory is the way of the cross. It is by losing one’s life for Him that true freedom and joy can be found. The way of Christ is the way of love. It is the way of surrendering our own sectional, self-interest on behalf of the other. The Cross is not the price that Jesus had to pay to talk God into loving us. It is simply where love will lead us. If we love, if we give ourselves to feel the pain of the world, it will crucify us. What the Lord says to Peter is extraordinarily sharp; but this very sharpness shows how serious the matter is. The way which the Father has pointed out to Christ his Son leads to the Cross. Anyone who attempts to deflect him from this path thinks not God’s thoughts but man’s. Peter becomes a tempter. The Cross is the climax of the life of Jesus. It is the essential mystery of redemption, the mystery of the life of Jesus: we are to have life by his death and to rise by his destruction. There is a prayer that is attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Congregation: “Lord teach me to be generous, teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward; save that of knowing that I do your holy will.”
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Feasts of the Week: Friday: The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary – The one who brought the dawn of hope and salvation to the world. Saturday: St. Ciaran. Born in Roscommon around 512. He founded the monastery in 545 in Clonmacnois which became one of the most renowned in Europe. He died aged 33 while the monastery was still being built.
Thank you for the collection last week. It came to £2400. We appreciate your support of the Graan during these difficult financial times. Thanks also to all who help in our weekend liturgies.
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Exposition: Each Friday from 10am – 2pm. Shop: Monday to Saturday – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm. Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Get Well, Wedding, Graduation, etc. Cost £2.
Sun & Mon no duty. Mass (Mon 4th Sept) – Charles. Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm. Sat 5pm – 6pm.
Mass: Mon to Fri @ 7pm. Duty: Tues – Brian. Wed – Antony Connelly. Thurs – Charles.
Friday – Anthony O’Leary. Saturday – Antony Connelly.
The September Church cleaning group will meet Wednesday (6th) immediately after the 7pm Mass.
Gluten-Free Hosts: If you are Coeliac and you wish to receive communion please come up to the altar and stand beside the Eucharistic Minsters where you will receive the gluten-free host.
Recently Deceased
Seamus Mc Manus, Kinawley
Mary Mc Grenaghan, Tattinweir, Tempo
Terry Green, Ballylucas, Enniskillen
Mrs M Kellagher, Garvary, Enniskillen
Anniversaries
Tom & Sheila Mc Caffrey, Enniskillen
& their daughter Lisa Byrne, Enniskillen
William Mc Gurn, Ashwoods, Enniskillen
Rachel (Baby) & Kevin Leonard, Largy, Garvary, Enniskillen
Rose Ferguson, Belcoo
Kathleen McGinley, New York & formerly Augher
Mollie Harkin, Tempo
Catherine & Luke Mc Govern, Garadice, Ballinamore
Susan Keown, Cornahilta, Belleek
Pat Maguire, Garrison
Mary Cox, Garrison
Canon Lonergon, Garrison
Mary Susan & Michael John Mc Caffrey, Garrison
Kathleen & Michael Goligy, Omagh
Nuala Maguire, Killesher
Edward & Bernadette Mc Loughlin, Killesher
Edward Mc Caffrey, Coa
Gerald Hogan, Enniskillen
John Dolan, Derryargon, Enniskillen
Brian Reilly, Enniskillen
Paddy Gallagher, Gorteen, Garrison
