October 13, 2024, Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 or 10:17-27

In the Gospel, Jesus is speaking to a rich young man who could not follow Jesus because of his possessions. In Mark 10, verses 21, Our Lord tell the young man “Go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

We find the same words in Matthew 19:21, the words that St. Antony of the Desert (251- 356 AD) heard after his parents had died and he had gone to a Church service.  St. Antony responded to the model of Jesus Christ who stressed the possession of the kingdom of God with love as His mission of salvation. St. Antony knew in his heart the possession of the kingdom of God in heaven and understood that material goods on earth were of no value. St. Antony understood this more intensely since his parents had died and had left St. Antony many possessions besides property and the care of his sister who eventually was taken care of by a religious community. But when St. Antony gave away his possessions, he knew in his heart that the mission of Jesus’ love was the good news of salvation. Some of us cannot give up possessions as radically as St. Antony of the Desert, but one can reflect about the possessions that we do have and ponder about the real need of our material goods. 

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.”

St. Teresa of Avila (pic via Wikimedia)

Online Retreats – The Benedictine Nuns of Jamberoo offering online retreats. For more information, please click  “Retreats” at Jamberoo Abbey.

Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for October 2024: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.  Dates include Wednesday 2 October to Sunday 27 October 2024 in order to continue the work of the Synod on Synodality around the theme “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. 

Sacra Mysteria Venerari (Click for more information)

An apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist by Bishop James S. Wall, Bishop of the Gallup Diocese.

MISSION STATEMENT –The Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert is a monastic community of women in the Benedictine tradition.  We profess vows of stability, conversion of life and obedience. Our primary mission, is to seek God through a life of prayer, silence and solitude.  Our way of life frees us to give glory and praise to God, intercede through prayer for the needs of the world and hospitality.