• AUGUST 14 Mon St Maximilian Kolbe Dt 10:12-22/Mt 17:22-27                15 Tue  ASSUMPTION OF MARY Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56                                                                                                  16 Wed Weekday [St Stephen of Hungary] Dt 34:1-12/Mt 18:15-20               17 Thu Weekday Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17/Mt 18:21—19:1                               18 Fri Weekday Jos 24:1-13/Mt 19:3-12                                                      19 Sat Weekday [Saint John Eudes,] Jos 24:14-29/Mt 19:13-15                20 20th SUNDAY Is 56:1, 6-7/Rom 11:13-15, 29-32/Mt 15:21-28 

The weekday readings from Matthew’s gospel are from chapters 18-19 which call for the disciples of Jesus to care for each other as they depart from Galilee with him on their way to Jerusalem.

Readings from the Book of Deuteronomy this week parallel the gospel readings. They are excerpts of three long speeches of Moses to his people as they approach the promised land and he approaches death. He reminds them of God’s favors and the laws they need to follow. August 16-19 are from the Book of Joshua who assumes leadership of the Israelites after Moses’ death.

The Assumption of Mary, August 15, is her most important feast. The date in late summer was chosen, it seems, as the harvests of herbs and other fruits of the earth take place. It was a time for harvest and for blessing the fields for the next year. We are planning a procession to the Mary Garden after the 11 AM Mass to thank God for the promised harvest of creation signified in the Assumption of Mary.