Date: September 27, 2009
First Reading (Numbers 11: 25-29)
A reading from the Book of Numbers.
The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, the Lord bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tend; yet the spirit came to rest on them as well, and they also prophesied in the camp. Therefore, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp," Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth been Moses' aide, stated, "Moses, my lord, stop them." However, Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that all the people are prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!"
Second Reading (James 5: 1-6)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the rightous one; he offers you no resistance.
Gospel (Mark 9: 38-48)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
John told to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you solemnly, will surely not 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 put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. Therefore, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed that with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the quenchable fire. In addition, if your foot causes you to sin, slice it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled rather than having two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. Plus, if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with only one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire cannot be extinguished.'"
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Date: September 20, 2009
First Reading (Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20)
A reading from the book of Wisdom.
Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the Law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing. Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his end will be. If the righteous is a son of God, then God will defend him and deliver him from his adversaries. Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience. When we have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words.
Second Reading (James 3:16 - 4:3)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
Wherever there is jealousy and ambition, you will also find discord and all that is evil. Instead, the wisdom which comes from above is pure and peace loving. People with this wisdom show understanding and listen to advice; they are full of compassion and good works; they are impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow peace reap a harvest of justice. What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your inner longings which mark war within your own selves? When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have what you want because you do not pray for it. You pray for something and you do not get it because you pray with the wrong motive of indulging your pleasures. You adulterers! Do you not know that making friends with the world makes you enemies of God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy.
Gospel (Mark 9: 30-37)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
After leaving the place, Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, "The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after his death, he will rise." The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to question Jesus what he meant.
First Reading (Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20)
A reading from the book of Wisdom.
Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the Law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing. Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his end will be. If the righteous is a son of God, then God will defend him and deliver him from his adversaries. Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience. When we have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words.
Second Reading (James 3:16 - 4:3)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
Wherever there is jealousy and ambition, you will also find discord and all that is evil. Instead, the wisdom which comes from above is pure and peace loving. People with this wisdom show understanding and listen to advice; they are full of compassion and good works; they are impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow peace reap a harvest of justice. What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your inner longings which mark war within your own selves? When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have what you want because you do not pray for it. You pray for something and you do not get it because you pray with the wrong motive of indulging your pleasures. You adulterers! Do you not know that making friends with the world makes you enemies of God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy.
Gospel (Mark 9: 30-37)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
After leaving the place, Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, "The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him, but three days after his death, he will rise." The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to question Jesus what he meant.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Date: September 13, 2009
First Reading (Isaiah 50: 5-9)
A reading of the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
The Lord God has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, and cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord God comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced. He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me? Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord God is my help, who will condemn me? All of them will wear out like cloth; the moth will devour them.
Second Reading (James 2: 14-18)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to rescue you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, "May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied," without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead. Say to whoever challenges you. You have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act.
Gospel (Mark 8: 27-35)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Caesarea and Philippi; and on the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" The disciples answered him, "Some say you are John the baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets." Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone about him. Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after three days, he would rise again. Jesus stated all of this quite openly, so that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. But Jesus, turning around and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as people do." Then Jesus called the people of his disciples and stated, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it.
First Reading (Isaiah 50: 5-9)
A reading of the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
The Lord God has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, and cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord God comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced. He who avenges me is near. Who then will accuse me? Let us confront each other. Who is now my accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord God is my help, who will condemn me? All of them will wear out like cloth; the moth will devour them.
Second Reading (James 2: 14-18)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to rescue you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, "May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied," without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead. Say to whoever challenges you. You have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act.
Gospel (Mark 8: 27-35)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Caesarea and Philippi; and on the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" The disciples answered him, "Some say you are John the baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets." Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone about him. Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after three days, he would rise again. Jesus stated all of this quite openly, so that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. But Jesus, turning around and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as people do." Then Jesus called the people of his disciples and stated, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Date: September 6, 2009
First Reading (Isaiah 35: 4–7a)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Say to those who are afraid: "Have courage, do not fear. See, your God comes, demanding justice. He is the God who comes to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unsealed. Then will the lamp leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb sing and shot. For water will break out in the wilderness and streams gush forth from the desert. The thirsty ground will become a pool, and arid land springs of water.
Second Reading (James 2: 1–5)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
My brothers and sisters, if you truly believe in our glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, you will not discriminate between people. Suppose a person enters the synagogue where you are assembled, dressed magnificently and wearing a gold ring; at the same time, a poor person enters dressed in rags. If you focus your attention on the well-dressed and say, "Come and sit in the best seat." while to the poor one you say, "Stay standing or else sit down at my feet." have you not, in fact, made a distinction between the two? Have you not judged, using a double standard? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, did God not choose the poor of this world to receive the riches of faith and to inherit the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? Ponder that question in your mind.
Gospel (Mark 7: 31–37)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Again Jesus set out from the country of Tyre, he passed through Sidon, and skirting the sea of Galilee, he came to the territory of Decapolis. There was a deaf man who also had difficulty in speaking. This man was brought to Jesus by the people, and they asked him to lay his hand upon him. Jesus took him apart from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then, looking up to heaven, he groaned and stated to him, "Ephphetha." which is translated to, "Be opened." After that, the man's ears opened, and his tongue loosened. He now can speak clearly and hear perfectly. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone, but the more Jesus insisted on not telling, the more the people proclaimed it. The people were completely astonished and proclaimed, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."
First Reading (Isaiah 35: 4–7a)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Say to those who are afraid: "Have courage, do not fear. See, your God comes, demanding justice. He is the God who comes to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unsealed. Then will the lamp leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb sing and shot. For water will break out in the wilderness and streams gush forth from the desert. The thirsty ground will become a pool, and arid land springs of water.
Second Reading (James 2: 1–5)
A reading from the letter of Saint James.
My brothers and sisters, if you truly believe in our glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, you will not discriminate between people. Suppose a person enters the synagogue where you are assembled, dressed magnificently and wearing a gold ring; at the same time, a poor person enters dressed in rags. If you focus your attention on the well-dressed and say, "Come and sit in the best seat." while to the poor one you say, "Stay standing or else sit down at my feet." have you not, in fact, made a distinction between the two? Have you not judged, using a double standard? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, did God not choose the poor of this world to receive the riches of faith and to inherit the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? Ponder that question in your mind.
Gospel (Mark 7: 31–37)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Again Jesus set out from the country of Tyre, he passed through Sidon, and skirting the sea of Galilee, he came to the territory of Decapolis. There was a deaf man who also had difficulty in speaking. This man was brought to Jesus by the people, and they asked him to lay his hand upon him. Jesus took him apart from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then, looking up to heaven, he groaned and stated to him, "Ephphetha." which is translated to, "Be opened." After that, the man's ears opened, and his tongue loosened. He now can speak clearly and hear perfectly. Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone, but the more Jesus insisted on not telling, the more the people proclaimed it. The people were completely astonished and proclaimed, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."
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