Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection, Sunday 26 September 2021 – They Do Good But Are Not Of Our Group

Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Sunday September 26, 2021

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

Theme of the Sunday: THEY DO GOOD. . . BUT ARE NOT OF OUR GROUP. The main theme of today’s reading is the one presented in the first reading and in the first part of the gospel. It is the fanaticism and envy that we harbour, often unconsciously, towards those who do good but are not part of our group. The Spirit acts freely through any person and is not compelled to keep within any boundary. The second reading could be used as an example to prove this point. Aren’t there Christians who, as James says, pile up riches, don’t share their goods with the poor and exploit the workers? On the other hand, don’t we know atheists who are good and generous, and sensitive to injustice towards the poorest and the defenseless?

FIRST READING
“Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets.”
A reading from the Book of Numbers (Numbers 11 :25-29)

In those days: The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, forbid them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19:7.9.11- 12.13 (R. 8ab)
R. The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart.

The law of the Lord is perfect;
it revives the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are steadfast;
they give wisdom to the simple. R.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
abiding for ever.
The judgements of the Lord are true;
they are, all of them, just. R.

R. The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart.

So in them your servant finds instruction;
great reward is in their keeping.
But who can detect their own errors?
From hidden faults acquit me. R.

From presumption restrain your servant;
may it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless,
clean from grave sin. R.

SECOND READING
“Your riches have rotted.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 5 : 1-6)

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA John 17:17ba
Alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; sanctify us in the truth. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“He that is not against us is for us. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48)

At that time: John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

The Gospel of the Lord

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Those who are for Christ.

PRIEST: Jesus Christ came on earth to teach us the true value of human life. Let us ask the Lord for his grace, so that our lives may be lived for him.

READER:
FOR THE CHURCH, (pause) let all Christians be sensitive to the goodness of people round them, and see in this a sign of God’s power at work within them. (pause) Lord, in your mercy; teach us to value our neighbour we pray Oh Lord.

FOR MEMBERS OF TRADE UNION MOVEMENTS, (pause) let their efforts on behalf of their members to achieve greater equality and a just wage be motivated by their awareness of man’s dignity, and the interests of the nation. (pause) Lord, in your mercy; teach us to value our neighbour we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNJUSTLY TREATED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, (pause) let them be encouraged to stand together to speak out against injustice, and may we help them by our prayers and positive support. (pause) Lord, in your mercy; teach us to value our neighbour we pray Oh Lord.

FOR AN END TO INTERNAL BICKERING IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES, Let us look inwardly on ourselves rather than the faults of others, and beg the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness for the times when we have been unjustly critical of our neighbour. (pause) Lord, in your mercy; teach us to value our neighbour we pray Oh Lord.

We pray in silence for our own intentions confident that God will answer us.

PRIEST:
Father, we make our prayers to you, trusting not in our own goodness but in your love and mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection

We learn from today’s Gospel that heaven is for those who can go through the process of cutting off. While the world strives to preserve life with its consumerist world-view, we strive to cut off, in order to gain heaven. To reach heaven we must learn to cut ourselves off part by part, day by day, until nothing of ourselves remains but everything of God. In other words, we must cut off pride for humility to grow; cut off egoism that altruism may grow; cut off lust that love may prosper; cut off laziness to give way to hard work. We must cut off anger that there may be inner peace; cut off the noisy world that silence may be heard; cut off negative friendship or influence to give way to authentic companions. It is in dying to vices that we cultivate virtues. Virtues give us the strength to move close to God. When we succeed in cutting off the unwanted elements, heaven becomes a living reality here and now. Our life on earth becomes a foretaste of heaven.

Today’s Saint and Quote: Pope Paul VI (Blessed) – September 26th

Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the Promised Land. She prepares a world she will not see.

Personal Devotional

-Pray for the grace to sustain a deeper conversion with Jesus as regards your challenges.

-Pray for those who are at the edge of giving up on God, that their faith will be strengthened.

Let Us Pray
I declare that I will love my neighbor by refusing to house a judgmental spirit. I refuse to focus on the sin in my neighbor’s life as opposed to the sin in my own. I will, however, be bold enough to challenge my neighbor in love and to pray for areas of bondage, pain, injustice, and sin in his life. I will love my neighbor by understanding that love doesn’t always feel sure, but often challenges and calls out something greater so that he can experience the fullness of Christ.