7 September - Catholic Grandparents Association - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

On this week's programme we have an interview with Máire Printer from the Catholic Grandparents Association. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as some other odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this week's programme HERE.

Catholic Grandparents Association

Máire Printer joined us on this week's programme to tell us about the Catholic Grandparents Association which was set up by Catherine Wiley to support the vocation of grandparents in passing on the faith and keeping prayer at the heart of family life.  Máire tells us about the history of the Association and shares with us some of the prayers for grandparents written by their grandchildren and why it is so important to support the vocation of grandparents today. Máire also invites everyone, but especially grandparents and grandchildren, to the National Grandparents pilgrimage to Knock next Sunday: 

Maire's interview excerpted from the programme is available HERE.  More information about the Catholic Grandparents Association is available at www.catholicgranparentsassociation.org 

Gospel - Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: 

‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves.  If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you:
the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge.

But if he refuses to listen to these,
report it to the community;
and if he refuses to listen to the community,
treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.

‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’

In this week's gospel, Jesus gives us the model for fraternal correction.  If one of our brothers or sisters does something wrong, we are not to gossip about them behind their back or moan about the injustice that was done.  We are to approach the person alone first.  It is only after we have done this that we are to progress to the next option.  Fraternal or neighbourly correction is difficult and we must only do it out of love - the true love that wishes good for the other person.  Do you love your brother or sister enough to tell them the truth in love?  Correction will only be effective if it is exercised out of this genuine type of love.  It requires both honesty and kindness.  It involves loving our neighbour as ourselves and asking ourselves if the shoe was on the other foot, what way would we like our brother or sister to correct us?

Other reflections on this week's gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

September 8th - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 9th - St. Ciaran
September 10th - St. Salvius of Albi
September 11th - St. Paphnutius
September 12th - St. Ailbe
September 13th - St. John Chrysostom

Notices

September 8th: Mass & Candlelight Procession for Our Lady's Birthday

This is the third year that a special procession has been held in Limerick to honour the birthday of Our Lady. The procession is inspired by the torchlight procession of Lourdes. 

This year Bishop Brendan Leahy joins the Monks of Moyross and the Corbett Suicide Prevention Group to lead the celebrations. 

Mass will be celebrated at 7pm in St Johns Cathedral and a torchlight processions will follow through the streets of Limerick, stopping for a minutes silence on Thomond Bridge where a wreath will be laid for those who have died by suicide. 

Everyone is asked to bring their own candles for the procession. At the end of Mass scapulars of Our Lady will be distributed free and people can participate in an enrolment prayer.  The processions will end in Arthurs Quay park and the Monks have baked a cake for a small celebration there!