Sunday, August 24, 2025
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
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First Reading:
Isaiah 66:18-21
The overall message in this passage is that God will look anywhere on Earth, even in (especially in) the most unexpected places, to call people into ministry and service.
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 117:1, 2, Mark 16:15
Anyone and everyone may be called into service to spread Light and Truth.
Second Reading:
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
This is a continuation from the second reading last week. (Hebrews 12:1-4)
Remember, we are never alone as we endure the trials, the hardships, the ego deaths, because discipline led by the Higher Hand creates resilience and leads us down the path of discipleship and devotion.
We can’t grow stronger from our workouts if we don’t increase weights in resistance training. This resistance tears down the muscles so they can heal, repair, and become stronger.
As such, we must continue to face resistance in life, which tears us down and humbles us, so we may heal and strengthen our spiritual muscles.
God doesn’t call the prepared. God prepares the called.
Alleluia:
John 14:6
“I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father, except through me.”
Gospel Reading:
Luke 13:22-30
Jesus speaks on the narrow path of walking in Christ, and how it doesn’t look the way people believe it must look, based on their limited human understanding. This is why many are surprised when they believe they are righteous (placed “first”) but are eventually knocked down and humbled (placed “last”) — while the humble and misunderstood (placed “last”) are divinely exalted (placed “first”). The path is not about speaking on or being surrounded by faith. It is about the embodiment of faith through devotion and trust in the Higher Will, as a humble student in life, living in prayer.
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I wanna tell you a story about this guy I know.
I met him for the first time many years ago, but I didn’t really start to get to know him until I met him again just a few years back, and we’ve been building our connection ever since. He’s a really cool dude.
He had it pretty easy as a child, growing up in a very wealthy home. His dad was a successful entrepreneur, so he never knew what it felt like to be without. His family would attend Mass together regularly, and they were ranked highly in the community’s hierarchy. It was obvious he wore his family name and elevated esteem very proudly.
His social life was bangin’, frequently going out and partying, having a good time, and he had quite a way with the ladies. In his early twenties when he was sent off to war, he was eager to come home and be honored for his service, hoping it would amplify his already-polished reputation.
Buuuut someone. somewhere, *looks up* had another plan for him.
During his time in battle, he was taken as a prisoner of war and was hit very heavily with a terrible illness. Eventually he was released from captivity, and for over a year, remained ill and bedridden in his home.
This captivity and illness brought him to a space mentally and physically where he could do nothing but surrender to the situation and contemplate life. His horrid physical circumstances, as well as his deep self-contemplation, brought him into some of the deepest depths of darkness. The temple he’d been building his entire life, built on reputation and material success, had totally collapsed. A brokedown palace, if you will. Major existential crisis.
Through that deep self-reflection, however, he was beginning to see everything so clearly. He could see his old patterns and behaviors and wanted nothing to do with them anymore. He began seeing with his spiritual sight, and no longer with his physical, human sight. He began to see the path of Truth.
As the illness subsided and he was mobile once again, he started taking steps down the path illuminated by the Light — strolling barefoot in nature, intimately connecting with the plants, animals, the sky, and the elements — and he found the nectar that was nourishing his soul.
To have gone from honorable serviceman, son of a wealthy businessman — to a barefoot man walking alone in nature, singing to the flowers and birds — people thought he must’ve gone insane while in captivity.
I mean, he was so smart and had so much going for him before…what happened to him?! Is he on something?! He’s gone crazy!
His dad, a churchgoing Catholic man, was horrifically ashamed of him. How dare he embarrass their family like that? How dare he not appreciate the riches and comfort he had been provided with his entire life?
How dare he…?
But he simply just did.not.care. You guys…he stripped down naked in front of a crowd, his dad, and the Bishop, saying he renounced all of his earthly riches because none of that mattered to him anymore. It was all of the flesh, and he wanted to live a life where his soul was rich and free.
Badass.
Once that Light Switch was flipped on for him and he saw what he saw, he couldn’t go back and unsee it. And he couldn’t live any other way but by the narrow way of the Light.
This guy’s name is Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most honored patron saints in history. He’s my dude. Being raised in the Catholic Church, I was introduced to him a few times when I was younger, but I didn’t ever really get to know know him until a few years ago. Such an incredible man.
One of the things I admire most about him was his strength in embodying Truth with such pure conviction and humility. He didn’t let his past identity, nor others’ misunderstandings of him, hold him captive from allowing his soul to fly freely and live in devotion and service.
Nobody would have ever expected this path for him though, not even himself. I mean, this isn’t what “normal” people looked like. He looked “normal” before — envied, and placed on quite a mighty pedestal by his peers.
Before his Awakening, he would’ve been considered an honorable man on an esteemed path, or placed “first”. But he had to be knocked down from that pedestal and experience his own version of hell’s fires, darkness, and death — or placed/judged “last” from the divine perspective — in order to be humbled and no longer deceived by false light — but to see the real Light.
Jesus was the opposite in that context. He grew up in the small village of Nazareth, which had quite an unfavorable reputation. When people heard that this self-proclaimed “messiah” was from Nazareth, they were certain he was full of it. Plus he broke some Jewish laws that they believed the true Messiah would never break. So, from their human understanding of righteousness, they believed they must crucify this blasphemous man who was claiming to be the King of the Jews.
Jesus, a humble man from Nazareth — not the expected fierce warrior, fighter king — was considered “last”.
“…For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Anyone, regardless of status, reputation, or “sinful” past, may be called into discipleship at any time, in the way they are uniquely called by a Higher Voice.
Discipleship, or Light Worker, or whatever label you want to slap on it, is not about saying the right words or being surrounded by others who also say the right words, nor is it about following a family tradition or cultural expectations. It’s about living your life authentically in devotion to Mother-Father God, asking how you can show up to humbly serve Creation, and then listening when the call comes, even when it seems insane from our human understanding — and it often does.
In the Gospel reading, when Jesus says the doorway into Home is narrow, he means that it requires discipline and devotion to the connection with the soul — a path where the Higher Voice within is louder than useless chatter and egoic fears.
This path is highly misunderstood, however, because it is not a logical path. But it was never meant to be within the bounds of human logic. It was always meant to be a path rooted in faith., built on the connection with the Highest Light found within ourselves, and trusting we’ll be caught with each leap of faith we take.
The only way Home is through Christ, which means walking in faith and union in the Holy Trinity — Father/Mother, Son/Daughter, Holy Spirit — Mind, Body, Soul.
This happens through aligning our thoughts and words *mind* with the call of our *soul* and then taking physical action *body* when we feel the call. The Union of the Holy Trinity, through Christ Consciousness.
This is how Jesus lived as the Christ incarnate, and he wanted to show us what that looked like so we could follow in his footsteps towards Home. He embodied the Christ in flesh all the way until he experienced the ultimate physical/ego death and would ascend in the Highest Glory. Hallelujah!
Hardships were never meant to just tear us down — not without the opportunity for redemption in Truth. We are simply being humbled so we may free our souls, embody our light, and be a lamppost to help others go within and find their soul’s unique way Home.
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Songs:
“Ripple” – Grateful Dead
There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go, no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must Follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who’s to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you Home
La da da da…
“Humbling River” – Puscifer
Braved the forests, braved the stone
Braved the icy winds and fire
Braved and beat them on my own
Yet I’m helpless by the river
Angel, angel, what have I done?
I’ve faced the quakes, the wind, the fire
I’ve conquered country, crown, and throne
Why can’t I cross this river?
Pay no mind to the battles you’ve won
It’ll take a lot more than rage and muscle
Open your heart and hands, my son
Or you’ll never make it over the river
It’ll take a lot more than words and guns
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we’ll cross the river
“Terrapin Station” – Grateful Dead
Some rise, some fall, some climb
To get to Terrapin
“Way of the Triune God” – Tyler Childers
I don’t need the laws of man
To tell me what I ought to do
He reached down and touched my hand
And gave me quite a talkin’-to
Gave it to me, strict in charge
Somethin’ simple I could ponder
‘Til the role is called on high
‘Til we all meet over yonder
Old time, screamin’ and shoutin’
Go up, tell it on the mountain
Faith too strong to be left doubtin’
Way of the Triune God
“Reflection” – Tool
So crucify the ego, before it’s far too late
And leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical
And you will come to find that we are all one mind
Capable of all that’s imagined and all conceivable
So let the light touch you, and let the words spill through
And let them pass right through, bringing out our hope and reason
Before we pine away
“All Around You” – Sturgill Simpson
God is inside you
All around you
And up above
Knowing
Showing you the way
Hymns:
“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” – Prayer of St. Francis
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
“Here I am, Lord”
I, the Lord of the sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who have made the stars of the night,
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
“Amazing Grace”
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
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“The Canticle of the Sun” – Saint Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night;
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.
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First Reading:
Isaiah 66:18-21
18 Thus says the LORD: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their offering to the house of the LORD in clean vessels. 21 Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 117:1, 2
R.(Mk 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Second Reading:
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
5 Brothers and sisters,
You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” 7 Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? 11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
12 So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.
Alleluia:
John 14:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
6 I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father, except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Reading:
Luke 13:22-30
22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from. 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
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Jen + Juice 
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