St. Gaspar’s Feast: I do not think the Lord wants me to feel inadequate, but that is how I feel. Trust is not a feeling, it is a decision. There are feelings of trustfulness, but they are not necessary in order to make the decision to trust. Maybe I have not been paying attention, but I have not seen these “signs accompanying” me in my belief. I guess I think I have to do it by myself. So the gospel is to be proclaimed to every creature. I feel unable and incapable, but maybe these feelings are designed to invite me to trust.

St Gaspar's Feast: What I hear, Proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

There are many choices for Sunday October 20th. Here are the other choices. It may help when you all post your reflections to indicate which set ofr reading you are reflecting on by posting with "Gaspar," "Mission," or 29th Sunday."

Mission Sunday Readings

Isaiah 56 1, 6-7
Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name Better than sons and daughters; an eternal, imperishable name will I give them. And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, Loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants-- All who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, Them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; Their holocausts and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

1 Timothy 2:1-8
Beloved, First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

John 17: 11, 17-23
Jesus raised his eyes toward heaven and prayed, saying Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

St. Gaspar Feast

Jeremiah 1:4-9
The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. "Ah, Lord GOD!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young." But the LORD answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth!

Romans 5:5-11
Brothers and Sisters, hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Mark 16:15-18
Jesus appeared to the eleven and said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Sunday, October 20, 2002 is the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is also Mission Sunday

Here are the readings.

Here is the Gospel

Some parishes operated by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood will be celebrating the Feast of St. Gaspar del Bufalo and may be using different readings.