About Today
Tuesday 19 August 2025
Tuesday of week 20 in Ordinary Time or Saint John Eudes, Priest
A mighty God is the Lord: come, let us adore him.
Year: C(I). Psalm week: 4. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Saint John Eudes (1601 - 1680)
He was born and died in Normandy. He was ordained priest and spent many years preaching parish missions. He organized a congregation of nuns that grew into the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, dedicated to the care of women rescued from a disorderly life, and a congregation of priests dedicated to the running of seminaries. He was active in encouraging devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
In his time the Church in France was corrupt and in many ways a source of evil rather than grace. The higher clergy were rich and privileged, and enjoyed and guarded their privileges (the country was run, and wars were waged, by a cardinal). The lower clergy were ignorant and the common people were poor, superstitious, and oppressed as much spiritually as materially. To this mix was added the poison of Jansenism, which taught that human nature was corrupt, original sin rampant, and perfection was both necessary for salvation and practically unattainable.
In such circumstances, setting up seminaries to ensure the proper education of priests becomes itself a revolutionary act, and the encouragement of devotion to the Sacred Heart – to the emotional core of Jesus – becomes not a sweet pious platitude but a defiant proclamation that the centre of God’s essence is his love, not condemnation.
Over and over again in the lives of the saints we find the Church sick and corrupt. Perhaps it must always be so, journeying in a fallen world and staffed by sinners who are as fallen as the rest of us and subject to worse temptations. And over and over again we find God’s grace acting through people like St John Eudes. They do not stand outside and complain or run campaigns, they go in and do things, removing the mould of worldly corruption and putting back, bit by bit, the leaven of grace. They will always be needed, until the world ends.
See also the articles in the Catholic Encyclopaedia and Wikipedia.
Other saints: St Oswin (- 651)
Hexham & Newcastle
In the political upheaval caused by King Oswald’s death in 641/2, his precarious kingdom of Northumbria disintegrated. This allowed Oswin, a relative of the former king Edwin, to regain control of Deira, its southern part, while Oswald’s half-brother Oswy held on to its northern half, Bernicia. Oswin proved a popular ruler, who worked as successfully with St Aidan as Oswald had. Bede tells us that he was courteous in manner and generous to all, and “among his other qualities of virtue and moderation the greatest was humbleness.” In an effort to consolidate his position against the enemies who had overthrown Oswald, Oswy eventually invaded Deira, conniving at Oswin’s murder, the news of which brought about the death of Aidan twelve days later, in August 651. Oswin, always popularly regarded as a martyr, was later buried at Tynemouth.
Other saints: Saint Ezekiel Moreno (1848 - 1906)
Philippines
Gospel Matthew 19:23-30 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Then Peter said in reply, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
Reflection on the Cartoon Drawing
Just like religion, humour is a vital part of what makes us human. Both are liberating, life-giving, and deeply healthy. That’s why, when we look at humorous cartoons, we should approach them with the same respect we give to any other art form, because they speak to truth in a way that is sharp, insightful, and often unforgettable. After all, Jesus drew crowds wherever He went, and He must have had a personality that was charismatic, disarming, and utterly compelling. It is not hard to imagine that He used humour, not to mock, but to connect, to challenge, and to bring the truth of God’s Word to life. He didn’t simply teach, He captivated!
Take, for instance, yesterday's Gospel reflection following the story of the rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus but in the end couldn't give up his riches to answer the call. Jesus, continuing the conversation in today's Gospel reading, says, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” The image is startling, absurd even - and that’s exactly the point. Like a cartoonist with a bold stroke, Jesus exaggerates to illuminate.
The rich man in the Gospel was sincere, even admirable. He longed for salvation, but saw it as something to be acquired, something 'he could do' to earn. But Jesus shifts the focus. Salvation isn’t just in the doing, it’s mainly 'in the being': in allowing ourselves to be transformed, made more Christ-like. Just as a cartoon hammers home its message with visual overstatement, Jesus uses unforgettable metaphors (camels, needles, planks in eyes...) to shake us up and awaken us. And all these images lead to one truth: salvation isn’t earned by effort alone, it is received as a gift of grace.
You want me to do What?,
Work part of the Pastor Shep Series,
Drawn by Susan Mattison,
Crayons on paper,
© Pastor Shep by Susan Mattinson
Tuesday of week 20 in Ordinary Time or Saint John Eudes, Priest
A mighty God is the Lord: come, let us adore him.
Year: C(I). Psalm week: 4. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Saint John Eudes (1601 - 1680)
He was born and died in Normandy. He was ordained priest and spent many years preaching parish missions. He organized a congregation of nuns that grew into the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, dedicated to the care of women rescued from a disorderly life, and a congregation of priests dedicated to the running of seminaries. He was active in encouraging devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
In his time the Church in France was corrupt and in many ways a source of evil rather than grace. The higher clergy were rich and privileged, and enjoyed and guarded their privileges (the country was run, and wars were waged, by a cardinal). The lower clergy were ignorant and the common people were poor, superstitious, and oppressed as much spiritually as materially. To this mix was added the poison of Jansenism, which taught that human nature was corrupt, original sin rampant, and perfection was both necessary for salvation and practically unattainable.
In such circumstances, setting up seminaries to ensure the proper education of priests becomes itself a revolutionary act, and the encouragement of devotion to the Sacred Heart – to the emotional core of Jesus – becomes not a sweet pious platitude but a defiant proclamation that the centre of God’s essence is his love, not condemnation.
Over and over again in the lives of the saints we find the Church sick and corrupt. Perhaps it must always be so, journeying in a fallen world and staffed by sinners who are as fallen as the rest of us and subject to worse temptations. And over and over again we find God’s grace acting through people like St John Eudes. They do not stand outside and complain or run campaigns, they go in and do things, removing the mould of worldly corruption and putting back, bit by bit, the leaven of grace. They will always be needed, until the world ends.
See also the articles in the Catholic Encyclopaedia and Wikipedia.
Other saints: St Oswin (- 651)
Hexham & Newcastle
In the political upheaval caused by King Oswald’s death in 641/2, his precarious kingdom of Northumbria disintegrated. This allowed Oswin, a relative of the former king Edwin, to regain control of Deira, its southern part, while Oswald’s half-brother Oswy held on to its northern half, Bernicia. Oswin proved a popular ruler, who worked as successfully with St Aidan as Oswald had. Bede tells us that he was courteous in manner and generous to all, and “among his other qualities of virtue and moderation the greatest was humbleness.” In an effort to consolidate his position against the enemies who had overthrown Oswald, Oswy eventually invaded Deira, conniving at Oswin’s murder, the news of which brought about the death of Aidan twelve days later, in August 651. Oswin, always popularly regarded as a martyr, was later buried at Tynemouth.
Other saints: Saint Ezekiel Moreno (1848 - 1906)
Philippines
Gospel Matthew 19:23-30 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Then Peter said in reply, ‘See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
Reflection on the Cartoon Drawing
Just like religion, humour is a vital part of what makes us human. Both are liberating, life-giving, and deeply healthy. That’s why, when we look at humorous cartoons, we should approach them with the same respect we give to any other art form, because they speak to truth in a way that is sharp, insightful, and often unforgettable. After all, Jesus drew crowds wherever He went, and He must have had a personality that was charismatic, disarming, and utterly compelling. It is not hard to imagine that He used humour, not to mock, but to connect, to challenge, and to bring the truth of God’s Word to life. He didn’t simply teach, He captivated!
Take, for instance, yesterday's Gospel reflection following the story of the rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus but in the end couldn't give up his riches to answer the call. Jesus, continuing the conversation in today's Gospel reading, says, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” The image is startling, absurd even - and that’s exactly the point. Like a cartoonist with a bold stroke, Jesus exaggerates to illuminate.
The rich man in the Gospel was sincere, even admirable. He longed for salvation, but saw it as something to be acquired, something 'he could do' to earn. But Jesus shifts the focus. Salvation isn’t just in the doing, it’s mainly 'in the being': in allowing ourselves to be transformed, made more Christ-like. Just as a cartoon hammers home its message with visual overstatement, Jesus uses unforgettable metaphors (camels, needles, planks in eyes...) to shake us up and awaken us. And all these images lead to one truth: salvation isn’t earned by effort alone, it is received as a gift of grace.
You want me to do What?,
Work part of the Pastor Shep Series,
Drawn by Susan Mattison,
Crayons on paper,
© Pastor Shep by Susan Mattinson