The Collingsworth Family: "Your Ways Are Higher Than Mine"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of The Collingsworth Family presenting "Your Ways Are Higher Than Mine":

 

Constitution Day and Constitution Week

On 17 September 1787, 39 Constitutional Convention (also known as the American Congress of the Confederation) delegates at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, signed the United States Constitution. This year is the 236th anniversary of the Constitution’s signing.

Constitution Day, the anniversary date of the signing, became a national observance in 2004, when Congress passed a bill designating 17 September as the day for citizens to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and to learn more about the nation's founding document. In honor of Constitution Day, all educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the U.S. Constitution. Constitution Week is being observed during the week of 17-23 September.

For more information about Constitution Day, please visit:

Constitution Day – September 17, 2024

Presidential Proclamation: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2024

Background information:

National Constitution Center

The Center for Civic Education

Facebook: Center for Civic Education

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for inspiring the development of the U.S. Constitution and the blessing it is.

Bishop Henning on Students Heading Back to School

"Beginning in late August and continuing into September, I enjoy the opportunity to visit some of our many Catholic schools here in Rhode Island. In most cases, the schools hold an opening Mass or 'Mass of the Holy Spirit.' While I also visit schools at other times of the year, these weeks are special as there is a palpable excitement and anticipation at the outset of the school year. The school year stretches ahead full of possibility."

In a recent commentary, Bishop Richard G. Henning, the bishop of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the beginning of a new school year in the diocese and on the need to get the word out about these schools.

To access Bishop Henning's complete essay, please visit:

The State of Hope: Back to School (12 SEP 24)

Reflection Starter from Laurence J. Peter

"My problem is I say what I'm thinking before I think what I'm saying.." - Laurence J. Peter

"Take Up Your Cross"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of "Take Up Your Cross" (by Jaime Cortez):

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time  The assigned readings are Isaiah 50:5-9a, James 2:14-18, and Mark 8:27-35.The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 116 (Psalm 116:1-6, 8-9).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm / 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time / Year B / CBW#182 / Psalm 116

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."

Reflections related to these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 15, 2024

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 15, 2024)

Community in Mission: Not Your Average Messiah - A Homily for the 24th Sunday of the Year (14 SEP 24)

Benedictine College: This Sunday, Jesus Changes Everything for the Apostles … and (12 SEP 24)

Word on Fire: Faith Without Works Is Dead (Cycle B * 24th Week of Ordinary Time)

The Pilot: Echoes: Scott Hahn: Following the Messiah (13 SEP 24)

The Pilot: Echoes: Deacon Greg Kandra: Scripture Reflection for Sept. 15, 2024, Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (11 SEP 24)

Thank You, Lord

Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of those who forgive us when we have wronged them (whether it be on purpose or unintentionally).

Msgr. Pope on the Sixth Spiritual Work of Mercy

"Of all the things about which I preach, very few (if any) provoke as strong (and usually negative) a reaction as the call to forgive. I get more angry pushback after a Mass at which I preach on forgiveness than when I speak about chastity, greed, or any other challenging moral topic.

"It would seem that the anger is rooted in two things: first, that the call to forgive implies some dishonoring or diminishing of the pain or injustice someone has experienced, and second, that it seems to imply that there is a requirement to stay in or resume relationships that are poisonous or dysfunctional. But forgiveness need not imply either of these.

"Forgiveness is a concept that is often misunderstood. . . ."

In a recent commentary based on various Scripture passages, Msgr. Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on forgivemness as a work of mercy.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: Forgive All Injuries - A Meditation on the Sixth Spiritual Work of Mercy (12 SEP 24)

Reflection Starter from Pope FRancis

"To know the Lord, it is not enough to know something about Him. We must follow Him, allow ourselves to be moved and changed by His Gospel, and engage in a relationship with Him - an encounter that transforms our life." - Pope Francis

Southern Raised: "Ghost Riders in the Sky"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Southern Raised presenting "Ghost Riders in the Sky":

 

On Gravel Biking in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, Historical Photos, and Other New England-related Topics.

A number of articles/posts have recently been published on a variety of New England-related subjects worth considering.

To access some of these, please visit:

The Herald News (Fall River, MA):14-year-old Mr. Icy charms Fall River with sweet entrepreneurial style (19 AUG 24)

Cape Cod Times: Old Cape Cod in photos: Historical snapshots from the Library of Congress (14 SEP 24)

Valley News (West Lebanon, NH): Gravel biking 'has exploded' in the Upper Valley (6 SEP 24)

The Boston Globe: A French ship that sank after a collision in fog off the Mass. coast in 1856 has been found (7 SEP 24)

Only In Your State: Connecticut: You Won't Even Recognize Connecticut When You Watch This Historical Footage From The 1940s

New Haven, CT, Register: West Haven window artist thrives with 'nontraditional canvas' (22 DEC 23)

WPRI-TV: Street Stories: Donation boxes a blessing for those down on their luck (7 APR 23)

Only In Your State: Maine: 10 Places You Recognize From Maine That Showed Up In Famous Movies