Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection, 19 September 2021

Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Sunday September 19, 2021

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery

Catechetical Week: Ends Today, collection is to be taken to support Catechetical work.

Theme of the Sunday: A COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES THE LEAST PRIVILEGED. The gospel tells us that if we want to be Jesus’ disciples we must become like children and consider ourselves the slaves of all. The greatness of a Christian consists in serving others, particularly the poorest. What the Master suggests, is of course, madness for unbelievers. The first reading shows us that those who choose to follow the wisdom of God, the upright, are a reproach to those who lead lives according to the principles of this world; often, therefore, the upright are persecuted. The second reading is linked. The roots of war, hatred and conflict lie in our refusal to accept the invitation of Christ to serve.

FIRST READING
“Let us condemn him to a shameful death.”
A reading from the Book of Wisdom (Wisdom 2:12.17-20)

[Ungodly men said:] “Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. “Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God’s son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 54:3-4.5.6 and 8 (R. cf. 6b)
R. Behold, the Lord is the upholder of my life.

O God, save me by your name;
by your power, defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth. R.

For the proud have risen against me,
and the ruthless seek my life.
They have no regard for God. R.

See, I have God for my help.
The Lord sustains my soul.
I will sacrifice to you with willing heart,
and praise your name, for it is good. R.

SECOND READING
“The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 3:16-4:3)

Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA 2 Thessalonians 2:14
Alleluia. God has called us through the Gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men. If anyone would be first, he must be the servant of all. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:30-37)

At that time: Jesus and his disciples went on from the mountain and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the Twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Christ must die a shameful death.

PRIEST: My brothers and sisters, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ is a mystery of salvation which we will never fully understand. Let us ask the Lord to give us a deeper faith, so that we may grasp more fully the meaning of suffering in our world today.

READER:
FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH, (pause) that their patient endurance, in the face of hostility and suffering, may be a sign to all Christians of the ultimate triumph of the Resurrection. (pause) Lord, hear us; teach us your ways we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO WORK FOR PEACE, (pause) that they may be prepared to pay the price of peace, and endure the loss of friends and even imprisonment, because they speak up against violence. (pause) Lord, hear us; teach us your ways we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONFINED TO THEIR BEDS OF SUFFERING, (pause) that they may be given the gift of patience, and use their sickness to God’s glory, by uniting it with the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross. (pause) Lord, hear us; teach us your ways we pray Oh Lord.

FOR REFUGEES FROM WAR-TORN COUNTRIES, (pause) that they may find safe refuge in their new homes, and have the courage to start their lives afresh, putting aside all bitterness and hatred for their oppressors. (pause) Lord, hear us; teach us your ways we pray Oh Lord.

We pray in silence for our own petitions to God, who has compassion on us.

PRIEST:
Father, we offer our prayers and our sufferings to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection

Jealousy, envy, and greed engender dispute, discord and disharmony. Our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our desire for what another owns destroy our inner peace, distort our perspective on life and make it difficult for us to love others. What feeds our jealousy and envy is the fear that we are unlovable. Yet God created us in love and for love. God has given each of us particular gifts to use in service to his people. Each one is unique, blessed just as he/she is. When we accept this truth, we can let go of comparing ourselves to others and our tendency to want to be great. We ought to reflect a bit on that area of our life where we need to be less competitive and argumentative.

Personal Devotional

Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. The wicked will have to suffer, but those who trust in the lord are protected by his constant love. You that are righteous, be glad and rejoice because of what the Lord has done. You that obey him, shout for joy!
– Psalm 32:1, 10 and 11

Let Us Pray:
O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what I should do; give me your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Amen.