Ahh, August.  The heat, the humidity, the rain showers and storms that pop up out of nowhere!  That’s summer life in the tropical Texas Gulf Coast.  As families try to squeeze activities and vacations into the last bit of summer before school starts, are you keeping up with your Son screen?

When talking about ordinary sun screen, I am referring of course to that most important product, designed to keep us from turning into lobsters.  So what is SON screen supposed to protect us from? SON screen protects the honest Christian, from pretty much everything else that may lead to the more serious (and eternal) burns. 

One simple way families can make sure they are keeping on their protective Son screen, is to remain faithful to Sunday mass or church attendance regardless vacation destination and plans. Our family has been lucky enough to visit some beautiful and often historical churches while on vacation.

Another way to keep Jesus close is to dedicate mornings to the daily bible readings. You can subscribe to receive them in your inbox on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website.  You can find that here.  

Speaking of bible readings, as a Church we’ve now eased into Ordinary time, where the month of August has some extraordinary Scripture passages.  In the readings for this month, we hear from the Prophets Jeremiah and Ezequiel who go from wooing God’s people to reprimanding them and back to soothing and reassuring. I love the prophets, they are so intense. Passion and intensity for God is just the thing to gets one thrown into a cistern for speaking truth to power.

In the Gospels this month, we experience Jesus: mourning the death of his cousin, walking on water, healing the daughter of the Canaanite (“Lord, even dogs get scraps from their masters table”), being transfigured, teaching about forgiveness, inviting children to come to him, and throwing down some solid parables. Also this month, Jesus advises us to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.”  Just like the prophets, Jesus admonishes leaders of his time (and this time too) whom he calls blind guides who end up leading converts to Gehenna. (Whoa!)

Also this month, we have some very special observances. August 6 is the Feast Day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, August 15 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 22 is the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary and August 29 is the Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist. August also features a good number of feast days and memorials for numerous saints, you and your family can learn about, including St. Edith Stein, St. Lawrence, St. Clare and St. Rose of Lima.

So as you make your way to your final summer vacation destinations, don’t forget the sun screen and don’t leave behind your Son screen, all those things that keep you close to our Lord and keep you from getting burned.  Bon voyage!