Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Isaiah 49:14-15
  • 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
  • Matthew 6:24-34

“Saint! … Saint!” Vincent yelled out the Pauline front door this Sunday morning.  Vincent was looking up and down the street, hopeful that he would spy his huge Saint Bernard dog.  But the stress in his voice confirmed that Saint was not in sight.  Once more Vincent called out, “Saint!  Here boy!”

“Did Saint get out of the backyard again, Vincent?” Mrs. Pauline asked her son.  “I thought we fixed that low spot underneath the fence!”

“He did!” Vincent told her.  Then Vincent shook his head.  “It reminds me of the Scripture of how impossible it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!  Well, somehow, Saint has figured out how to squeeze through that little opening with his enormous dog body!”

“Better go out and look for him, Son,” Mr. Pauline came by and said.  “We’ll wait a few minutes to start out Sabbath Scripture reading until you get back.”

In about five minutes, Vincent was back with a slightly muddier Saint, the dog.  From the look on Saint’s face, he was happy to be home again.

“Where did you find him, Vincent?” his mother asked.

“He was over at Nelson’s house barking up a storm with their dog, Bubbles.  And Bubbles is a Rottweiller!  I think Saint was happy I found him!” Vincent chuckled.

“All right, Family, now it’s time for our Sabbath Scripture reading!” Dad announced with a flourish.

Everyone came running into the living room.  Even Saint, the dog, bounded in and sat quietly on the rug.

Dad began, “I am going to read Matthew 6, Verses 24 to 34 today.  Then I have a quiz for you!”

Everyone’s ears perked up.  If Dad said that there would be a quiz at the end, extra listening was required!

Dad finished the reading and reached behind the couch for three objects that he had hidden there.  One was a map, one was a flashlight, and the other was another Bible.

“Okay, Family, I have three items here that help me find things.  “If I was looking for something in a dark room, or in an unlit closet, which of these three things would I use?”

“That’s easy, Dad!” little Lucy answered.  “You would use the flashlight!”

“Good job, Lucy!” Dad told her.  “Now, what would I use if I was looking for a way to get from New York to California?”

“Another easy answer, Dad!” Mary Clare told her father.  “You would use a map!”

“You’re two for two!” Dad told his family.  “But what would I use if I was looking for God?  Which of these things would help me find God the most?”
“The Bible!” the kids all answered in unison.

“That’s right, Family!” Dad smiled.  “Our Scripture reading today says, ‘Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.’ (Matthew 6:33)   If we seek Jesus first, and let Him be the King that rules our lives and lives in our hearts, we will find God and be part of His eternal kingdom!”

“This reading also makes the point about worrying too much,” Mom added.  “Jesus tells the people that worrying about things we think we ‘need’ can be distracting.  Jesus knew that the people following Him had some basic needs like clothes to wear, food to eat, and water to drink.  Yet, Jesus told them not to worry about those things because something else was more important.”

“Is that when He talks about the birds in the sky and the flowers in the field?” Vincent offered.

Dad smiled.  The kids WERE intently listening!

“Yes, Vincent!” Dad told him.  “Jesus told the people to let God have control of their lives and to seek the goodness of God first.  The birds don’t worry about their food; the flowers are beautifully clothed, yet they don’t work.  Jesus assured them that God knew their needs and would take care of them!”

“So, we are to seek Jesus first, learn about Him from the Bible, and not worry.  Does that pretty much sum it up, Dad?”  Vincent concluded.

Dad thought for a moment, and then replied.  “That’s a pretty good summation, Son!” his Dad said.  “Just like you went out looking for Saint this morning and brought him home, God wants all of us to seek, or look, for Him so He can bring us home, too.  And that home is heaven!”

“Woof!  Woof!” Saint yelped, as he stood up and gave Dad a big lap of his tongue.

Dad laughed.  “I know the Pauline family understands this message, but it’s great to know that even Saint agrees!”

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Cycle A, 8 OT, SSSDownload

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