August 2023: Mass Readings and Resources

St. Alphonsus Liguori was a 18th century Italian bishop and the founder of the Redemptorist order. He promoted simple homilies over the pompous sermons of the day. He believed in practicality in the confessional and was able to answer questions about everyday problems.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, we hear the parable of wheat and weeds explained by Jesus. He tells us of a stark reality. The end is coming for all of us. Now is the time to grow like wheat. We must strive to grow closer to the Lord.

In the gospel for Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, we hear the parable of the buried treasure and the parable of the pearl of great price. In the first treasurer, a man is digging in a field and he happens across a treasure. He is probably a day laborer and has little wealth. In the second parable, a wealthy merchant is actively searching for that perfect pearl.

In the gospel for Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells parables about good and bad, new and old. In the sea, there are fish which are good for eating and those which are not. In our closets, we have new things and old things. We must learn to see what is useful in our lives and what is not.

St. John Vianney was known for his holiness, his dedication to our Blessed Mother, and his reputation as a confessor. He is the patron saint of parish priests. His feast day is August 4. He is also called The Cure of Ars.

In the gospel for Saturday of the 17th week in Ordinary Time, we hear of the death of John the Baptist. Like many martyrs, John had the audacity to speak truth to power.

August 6 is the Feast of the Transfiguration. This day commemorates the day Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, traditionally thought to be Mount Tabor. This is recounted in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Peter, James, and John witnessed the event.

St. Dominic founded the Dominicans, which is known as the Order of Preachers (OP). They sought to educate through informed preaching. St.Dominic was inspired by the lifestyle of the early Christians as described in the Acts of the Apostles. He also preached and spread the devotion of the rosary.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 18th week in Ordinary Time, The disciples are being storm tossed in a boat and are terrified. But Jesus comes to them and calms the storm.

In the gospel for Wednesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time, a Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. When Jesus seems to hesitate, she shows perseverance and her request is granted.

St. Lawrence was a 3rd century martyr. He lived in Rome and as a deacon was responsible for distributing resources to the poor. When the prefect of Rome demanded that he bring him the treasures of the Church, he brought a group of the poor he had been serving, saying These are the treasure of the Church.

St. Clare of Assisi was one of the first people to follow St. Francis of Assisi. She founded the Poor Clares Order. She embraced a rule of poverty, austerity, and seclusion.

The readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A show us that God is Lord over all of the earth. This might be a good time to talk about how we can let Jesus be Lord in our own lives. There is also a theme of recognizing God.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of families, journalists, prisoners, ant pro-life movement. His feast day is August 14.

August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This holy day celebrates Mary’s passing and being assumed into heaven.

The readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A highlight that God wills all of the world to be saved. So here we can talk about being inclusive and wanting all people to be joined in the Kingdom of God.

St. Pius X was pope from 1903 to 1914. He strongly believed that frequent reception of the Eucharist should be promoted. He also encouraged children to receive Holy Communion and reduced the minimum age for reception of the Eucharist from 12 years old to 7 years old. He is sometimes called Pope of the Blessed Sacrament.

This feast day celebrates the queenship of Mary. As the mother of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all creation, our Blessed Mother shares in his royal heritage. Mary’s queenship foreshadows the glory in heaven which awaits all of us who recognize her son as ruler of the universe.

In the gospel for Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tries to explain how difficult it is for us to save ourselves! It is impossible. So who can be saved? Only those who rely on God.

In the gospel for Wednesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who rewards wages to all of his laborers without regard to how much they have worked.

St. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is mentioned several times in the synoptic gospels. He is also widely thought to be the person identified as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John. After the resurrection of Jesus, he is one of the apostles who saw our risen Lord at the Sea of Galilee. He went on to evangelize in Asia Minor and was martyred.

In the gospel for Friday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Jesus answers a question about which law is the most important. He tells us that our primary purpose is to love God. We demonstrate that we understand that by loving each other.

The readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A remind us that God’s wisdom is not the same as our own wisdom. Possible topics for this Sunday are Church authority, faith, and prayer. Here are some ideas.

St. Augustine of Hippo was born in North Africa. He spent his youth living wildly but then converted to Christianity after his mother, St. Monica, prayed for him for years. He became a priest and then later a bishop. His his extensive writings make him a doctor of the Church. After his conversion he preached and lived a life of poverty.

This feast day is a memorial of the beheading of St. John the Baptist. Herod was fascinated by John. But when he threw a party and promised his daughter anything, she asked for the head of St. John the Baptist at the suggestion of her mother. Herod didn’t want to go back on his word and embarrass himself so he had the cousin of Jesus executed.

In today’s gospel, helps us understand that we are here to serve God. He is the center of our world. It’s not about me.