AUGUST 15 Mon THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY INTO HEAVEN

Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56 

16 Tue Weekday [St Stephen of Hungary] Ez 28:1-10/Mt 19:23-30 

17 Wed Weekday Ez 34:1-11/Mt 20:1-16 

18 Thu Weekday Ez 36:23-28/Mt 22:1-14 

19 Fri Weekday [St John Eudes, Priest] Ez 37:1-14/Mt 22:34-40 

20 Sat St Bernard, Doctor of the Church Memorial Ez 43:1-7ab/Mt 23:1-12 

21 SUN TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Is 66:18-21/Heb 12:5-7, 11-13/Lk 13:22-30

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven stands out among the feasts we celebrate in August. The feast is the oldest and most important of Mary’s feasts in our church calendar. A video homily and explanation of the feast appear on this blog  for August 15.

 Readings from Matthew’s gospel this week are from chapters 19-23: Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem after his extensive ministry in Galilee. On the way he faces increased opposition from the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They’re his obvious protagonists but Matthew also sees opponents of Jesus in the church of his time, and we are meant to see them in our times as well. 

Friday the readings from Ezekiel end with a picture of the temple where God dwells, now free from the political abominations of men. Before the temple was like the private chapel of the king. Now God is king.

St. Bernard is an most important saint, after the Virgin Mary, we celebrate this week.