Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

First Reading

Exodus 32:7-11,13-14

Moses stands up to God, recalling all of God's great promises.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,17,19

Once we are forgiven, we can hope for a new heart and a fresh start.

Second Reading

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Paul proves it's never too late to repent and serve God.

Gospel Reading

Luke 15:1-32

Jesus responds to those who criticize him for keeping company with the unworthy.

Background on the Gospel Reading

In chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells three parables about losing, finding, and rejoicing. The outcasts of society, the taxpayers, and the sinners approach Jesus eager to hear what he has to say. In Luke's Gospel, hearing is a sign of conversion. The Pharisees and scribes, still suspicious of Jesus, complain about him associating with sinners. So he tells them these three parables.

In the first story, the parable of The Lost Sheep, the shepherd leaves behind the 99 sheep to search for the 1 lost sheep. When he finds it, the shepherd rejoices not alone as in Matthew's version, but with friends and neighbors. In the same way, God rejoices more over 1 sinner who repents—like the outcasts who have come to hear Jesus—than over the 99 righteous like the Pharisees and scribes.

The second story, about a poor woman who will not stop searching until she finds her lost coin, makes the same point. Why are the Pharisees complaining? They should rejoice when the lost are found.

Finally we come to what is probably the most memorable parable in the Gospels, the story we know as The Prodigal Son. Just as in The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin, this story (found only in Luke) is really about the seeker. The loving father is at the center of this parable. Even though his son runs off with his father's inheritance and squanders the money, the father waits for him, hoping for his return. Upon his son's return, the father, “full of compassion,” runs out to embrace and forgive him before the son can utter one word of repentance. At this point the rejoicing begins.

The parable does not end there. Rather, it makes one more point about the older son's reaction. This son who never left, just like the Pharisees and scribes who feel they are righteous, refuses to enter his father's house to join in the rejoicing. He has served his father. He has obeyed him. Perhaps it was not out of love. The father's response teaches us that God's care and compassion extend to the righteous and sinner alike. When we are lost, God doesn't wait for our return. He actively seeks us out. And when the lost are found, how could we not celebrate and rejoice?

Pope John Paul I Is Beatified

If you are my age or older, you might remember the pope who came between Paul VI and John Paul II. He was only pope for 33 days, until his sudden and untimely death. Last Sunday, Pope John Paul I was beatified in the Vatican. This is the last step before canonization. This article from America magazine gives an overview of his life and the impact of his brief papacy.

The Love of Christ

The Love of Christ by Vince Ambrosetti is a contemporary hymn by a Catholic composer who also travels around the country giving parish missions. Enjoy this lyrical piece of liturgical music.

Monthly Family Mass

We are planning to initiate a monthly celebration focused on families at the 9:00 am Mass. We will try to gear the readings, homily, music, etc. to families with children. We want to form a committee to work on the planning and preparation for this Monthly Family Mass. Fr. Ron is looking for parents both from our school and our religious education program who would like to be a part of this committee. If you are interested, send an email to Fr. Ron: [email protected]

This first Family Mass will be on Sunday, September 25 at 9:00 am.

Ye Olde Garage Sale

The Ye Olde Garage Thrift Store will be open for their once a month Sunday Sale this Sunday, September 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Stop by and see what is being offered. We even have some Halloween and Fall items up now.

The book of Matthew brings the history of Christ to life. We see Jesus as the awaited Messiah who fulfills the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, establishes the New Law, and inaugurates the kingdom of heaven. Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, a twenty-four-part Bible study, explores how Jesus is challenging and empowering us to a new level of holiness and shows how we must be thoroughly immersed in the kingdom of heaven on earth, the Church, to live it.

St. Patrick’s Ruah Adonai – Breath of God Bible Study group will hold registration for the 2022-23 bible study on the gospel of Matthew the weekend of September 10 and 11. Please join us on the patio to register.

If you would like to preview the study on-line go to

https://ascensionpress.com/collections/matthew-the-king-and-his-kingdom and if you have any questions contact [email protected]

The Knights of Columbus would like to invite our parish and friends to our annual Oktoberfest celebration on

September 24, from 5:00 – 8:00 in the Parish Hall. 

We will have Traditional German Music a raffle and German Beer. Tip-Top Meats will be providing the German sausage and sauerkraut. Tickets will be $20.00 each and will be on sale on the patio after all the weekend Masses. 

Un Saludo de parte del Diacono Miguel,

Jesús les dijo entonces esta parábola: "¿Quién de ustedes, si tiene cien ovejas y se le pierde una, no deja las noventa y nueve en el campo y va en busca de la que se le perdió hasta encontrarla?” En el Evangelio de este XXIV Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Jesús nos habla de tres parábolas. La primera es da las cien ovejas, y cuando se pierde una oveja se dejan las 99 para buscar la perdida. Jesús termina esa parábola diciendo, “en el cielo habrá más alegría por un pecador que se arrepiente, que por 99 justos que no necesitan arrepentirse”. La segunda es de la mujer que tiene diez monedas, pero cuando pierde una moneda, hace lo necesario para encontrarla, y cuando la encuentra, se llena alegría, y les dice a sus amigas, “Yo les aseguro que así también se alegran los ángeles de Dios por un solo pecador que se arrepiente”. La tercera es del hijo prodigo, que, por su egoísmo, le pide a su Padre la parte de la herencia que le corresponde. Y con el dinero en su mano se va y lo malgasta todo. Estando con los cerdos, se “acuerda” del mal que había hecho, se “acuerda” de su Padre amoroso, y se arrepiente, se levanta y regresa a su Padre. El Padre lo recibe con mucha alegría y prepara una fiesta, dice, “mi hijo estaba muerto y ha vuelto a la vida, estaba perdido y lo hemos encontrado”. Dios siempre nos espera. Cuidado de no caer en la falsa idea de que no necesitamos arrepentirnos de nada. Mirarnos hacia dentro, y no perder la oportunidad de estar en las manos amorosas de Dios.

Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su reflexión.

Detente 

Hablemos de Misericordia

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866