Last Ember Days of Autumn

Today is a day filled with options. The 21 day of September is both National New York Day and the Feast of Saint Matthew. This year we have a third option – an Ember Days of Autumn.

While New York is an important state filled with history, as a Catholic days within the Church Calendar far outweigh any of those of secular significant. Today is the final Ember Days of Autumn in this Church Cycle. Unlike the secular world, Advent Sunday marks the start of a new year within the church. It is a moveable date. Find Christmas (December 25) and count back four Sundays. That is the First Advent Sunday of the new church year. This year, December 1 is the beginning of a new cycle.

Ember Days of Autumn require two things to happen first. Ember Days of Autumn follow the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross (September 14) and three Sundays in September. All other Ember Days are fixed in the sense that they follow particular seasons within the Church of Advent, Lent and Pentecost.

The point of Ember Days is to praise God and give thanks for the changing seasons. While our world is no longer as dependent upon the changing seasons as we once were, as a whole the ties still exist. For that reason alone, we should always give thanks. To have an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord is such a blessing. One of my favorite passages that Matthew gave us is Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

God cares for all His creation. We are His, and His alone. If He brings rain to the birds of the air, think how much more He will give us, His children?

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Sometimes the most simple of meals can bring the greatest of pleasure. Not only is this recipe easy to throw together for a weekday supper, it gives us the most precious gift of all – time together. Enjoy!

Garlic Toast Roast Beef Sandwiches
2 (10 oz) cans Beef Consommé
Splash White Wine
16 oz thin sliced Roast Beef
Montréal Steak Seasoning to taste
1 tablespoon Dried Onion Flakes
1 box frozen Garlic Texas Toast
Sliced Cheese, optional

Heat oven to 425-degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, set aside.

In a sauce pan, warm Beef Consommé with a splash of wine. Dip sliced roast been into the Consommé to moisten. Lay meat out on a cutting board and season with Montréal Steak Seasoning. Toss and set aside.

Sprinkle dried onion flakes onto the Consommé. Stir and let simmer until ready to use.

Place slices of Texas Toast on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, until the bread has softened but is not yet fully toasted. Remove from oven, close oven door to retain heat.

With the back of a spoon, press an indentation in the center of the bread for the roast beef. Divide roast beef between four slices of toast. If desired, top beef with slices of cheese. Top with remaining toast to close.

Return sandwiches to the oven and continue to toast until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden, about 4 minutes, turning half way thru for even browning.

Divide the Au Jus into small ramekins, serve with the toasted sandwiches for dipping. Steak fries are a delicious side for a yummy yet simple supper.

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As Jesus passed by, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Him.