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Good afternoon, Friend

August 30

Daily Reflection

Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s first reading, Paul gives practical instructions regarding fraternal charity. When living with alcoholism, it seems impossible to adhere to those practices without a miracle. It takes work to start practicing new habits that help us obtain a “tranquil life” of minding our “own affairs” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). But once we taste and see that God is good, that the program works, and that we can have peace, we can’t help but share it with others.

Jesus is very clear in today’s Gospel reading about being useful in His kingdom. If you replace the word talent with love or miracle, the parable begins to make sense on a spiritual level. The parable highlights the importance of being a good steward of the things God gives us, whatever tangible form the blessings look like. If God gives us a miracle and then we, in turn, share our testimony with others and plant seeds of faith, in time, it will bear fruit and multiply. When God returns, He will find us good and faithful servants who have invested in sharing the good news of peace and recovery.

Sometimes when we receive our miracle or healing, there is a temptation to leave recovery groups or forget our program of action. We might think, maybe we’ve been in the program long enough and it’s time to enjoy our life and be like other “normal” people? But in my experience, I’ve noticed that it only takes a few days for me to get irritable, restless, and discontent without my daily program. Even after years in recovery, if I’m not working with others or being of service, I get squirrely and ungrateful, my program gets stagnant, and my sharing becomes lackluster. I get crusty. The old saying in recovery that we don’t get to keep our gift if we don’t give it away rings true. Working with others and being of service in recovery is a privilege, especially considering today’s commandment to love one another. I can’t think of a better way for us to spend our days.

Reflection Questions

How have you experienced God’s love and the love of others in your recovery program? How has your Catholic faith and recovery program helped you love others more deeply?
How do you practice Step Twelve? How can you be of service to others this week?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Reflection by Paola P.

Historical Reflections

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

August 29, 2025

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

August 28, 2025

Memorial of Saint Monica

August 27, 2025

Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

August 26, 2025

Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

August 25, 2025

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 24, 2025

Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

August 23, 2025

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

August 22, 2025

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

August 21, 2025

Good afternoon, Friend

August 30

Saint of the Day

Saint Fiacre

Audio Reflection

(d.670) — Raised in an Irish monastery, he sought to live as a hermit in north-central France but was constantly sought out for his holiness and knowledge. The place of his hermitage complex eventually became a village. Saint Fiacre had the gift of a healing touch. He is a patron of gardeners, the sick, blind, and barren, as well as those suffering from headaches, fever, hemorrhoids, and venereal disease.

Many of the stories leading to various patronages seem to have faded over time and may have been mostly legend to begin with. One area of acclaim that has withstood scrutiny is Fiacre’s skill as a gardener. In recovery, we strive to bring life and spend time weeding out our defects. How is recovery like cultivating a garden? How is your garden faring these days?

Saint Fiacre, pray for us, that we can be agents of healing. Pray that all we touch is imbued with the grace of Jesus Christ and leads to wholeness for us and those around us. Amen.

Reflection by Brad Farmer

Other Saints

Saint Mary of the Cross (Jeanne Jugan)

August 29, 2025

Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

August 28, 2025

Saint Monica

August 27, 2025

Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified Baouardy

August 26, 2025

Saint Louis IX, King of France

August 25, 2025

Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

August 24, 2025

Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin

August 23, 2025

Queenship of Mary

August 22, 2025

Saint Pius X, Pope

August 21, 2025

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