August 17, 2025, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53

Ever feel you are at ropes end in life with various circumstances and challenges? In the first reading Jeremiah is thrown into a deep cistern where there is mud. Later Ebed-melech, is allowed to rescue Jeremiah before he should die. Over the last three months our community has been asked by the laity for prayer. There are many needs expressed, and we appreciate the time to answer as often as we can with a reply of hope. It seems at times that one falls into the cistern of despair or can’t seem to accept the circumstances that surround us. The strongest sustenance is prayer and without prayer one becomes weak, powerless and our lives become unfulfilled. Connecting with God helps in our personal growth and one experiences God’s blessings. May Jeremiah be an example of God’s grace to accept His will. As in the Psalm for this week, “Lord, come to my aid! I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me, Psalm 40.” God bless you.

Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms
The motto
Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” (Vatican News)

Pope Leo XIV – Intentions for the month of August 2025: Mutual coexistence. The Pope is asking the faithful to pray that societies where coexistence is difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation based on ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons. 

“BE DOERS OF THE WORD,” by Bishop James S. Wall, Bishop of the Gallup diocese 2024: “Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup discusses his special connection to the diocese and his experience as bishop in this unique diocese. Bishop Wall also talks about how the Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps provide the faithful of his diocese with the most basic things and why contributing to the Collection is so important. Bishop Wall’s diocese also has the highest percentage of Native American lands of any diocese in the country, he briefly discusses how the Church can minister to Native Americans through the Pastoral Framework for Indigenous Ministry “Keeping Christ’s Sacred Promise”.

MISSION STATEMENT –The Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert is a monastic community of women in the Benedictine tradition. We profess vows of stability, conversion of life and obedience. Our primary mission, is to seek God through a life of prayer, silence and solitude. Our way of life frees us to give glory and praise to God, intercede through prayer for the needs of the world and hospitality