26th SUN IN ORDINARY TIME, September 29, 2024: Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
The word “Gehenna,” was a valley outside of old Jerusalem that was a forever fire blazing dump at the time of Jesus where people put their garbage, rubbish or discarded items. Jesus uses the word in the Gospel to help people understand Gehenna was “where the worm will never die nor their fire be put out,” if one keeps sinning with ones feet, hands, or eyes. I think Jesus is reminding me to think about temptations before me, to pray, to think of the alternative of sin, to ask for grace, to ask for faith to continue taking he right journey to God.
Last month, we had our yearly retreat (Sept 9-12) with Fr. John Brahill, from Marmion Abbey, Aurora, Illinois. It was a time of deep refection and rest! We began the retreat with a DVD, “Paul Apostle of Christ.” Its an excellent movie about how Luke goes to Rome to visit Paul in prison. The movie captivates the death of Paul with Luke who persists in writing a book that described the birth of the Church. True episodes are found in the Acts of the Apostles; however, there are 13 books attributed to Paul the Apostle in the Epistles of Paul or Letters of Paul.
Fr. John gave two conferences a day with written questions to think and pray about. One of the first questions after Fr. John spoke about the Emmaus Journey, was “How do you envision yourself ‘walking with Christ?’”
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.