Jesus Sends Out The Seventy Two

September 30, 2021, Thursday
MEMORIAL OF SAINT JEROME, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 458

Reading I
Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12

The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,
and they called upon Ezra the scribe
to bring forth the book of the law of Moses
which the LORD prescribed for Israel.
On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,
Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll 
so that all the people might see it
(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, 
“Amen, amen!”
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
As the people remained in their places,
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
“Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep”–
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further:  “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”
And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,
“Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.”
Then all the people went to eat and drink,
to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy,
for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.

Responsorial Psalm
19:8, 9, 10, 11

R.    (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
    refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to the simple.

R.    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
    enlightening the eye;

R.    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
    enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
    all of them just.

R.    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

They are more precious than gold,
    than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
    or honey from the comb.

R.    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Alleluia
Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 10:1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.’
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you, 
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

REFLECTION:

Looking around the globe today we see many examples of hostility, injustice and lack of love. The gospel challenges us to be messengers of peace. Maybe by entering into the chaos of someone within your own radius you will discover that “the kingdom of God has come near” and that you are one of the “seventy others” bringing the good news of the kingdom. Perhaps, quietly bring to mind one person that you know who is suffering and who needs “the good news” of human support.

PRAYER:

Lord, peace means tranquility of spirit. It is a great gift to give to others. But before I share it, I must be possessed by it myself. Christian peace comes from knowing that you love me endlessly, that you are always with me and watching out for me. You are my Shepherd and you will lead me along the right path.

There Is No Duplicity In Him (FEAST OF SAINTS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS - YEAR B)

September 29, 2021, Wednesday
FEAST OF SAINTS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 647

Reading I
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:
    Thrones were set up
        and the Ancient One took his throne.
    His clothing was bright as snow,
        and the hair on his head as white as wool;
    His throne was flames of fire,
        with wheels of burning fire.
    A surging stream of fire
        flowed out from where he sat;
    Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
        and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
    One like a son of man coming,
        on the clouds of heaven;
    When he reached the Ancient One
        and was presented before him,
    He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
        nations and peoples of every language serve him.
    His dominion is an everlasting dominion
        that shall not be taken away,
        his kingship shall not be destroyed.

OR: 

Rv 12:7-12ab

War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them.”

Responsorial Psalm
138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5

R.    (1)  In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
    for you have heard the words of my mouth;
    in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name.

R.    In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Because of your kindness and your truth;
    for you have made great above all things
    your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
    you built up strength within me.

R.    In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD
    when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD
    “Great is the glory of the LORD

R.    In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Alleluia
Ps 103:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Jn 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

REFLECTION:

We celebrate today the feast of three archangels, Michael (Who is like God?) is the protector from the snares of the devil, Gabriel (Strength of God) announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the birth of Jesus, Raphael (Medicine of God) is the archangel who looked after Tobias on his journey.

Let us reflect on the roles of the three Archangels. Michael, our protector against the snares of the devil, prompts us to ask if we are aware of the work of the devil in our lives. Recalling the temptation of Christ, we can be assured that if Satan went after Jesus, he will go after us. Gabriel, the messenger to Zachariah and Mary, suggests that we ask ourselves how we react to the call of God in the changing movements of our lives. Raphael recalls our Guardian Angels, our personal protectors. Do our guardian angels feel unemployed because we give them so little attention?

PRAYER:

Father, thank You for taking care of me through Your mighty and loving angels, in Christ Jesus' name, AMEN.

Samaritan Opposition

September 28, 2021, Tuesday
MEMORIAL OF SAINT LAWRENCE RUIZ (SAN LORENZO RUIZ DE MANILA) AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS (Red)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 456

Reading I
Zec 8:20-23

Thus says the LORD of hosts:
There shall yet come peoples,
the inhabitants of many cities;
and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,
and say, “Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD”;
and, “I too will go to seek the LORD.”
Many peoples and strong nations shall come
to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem
and to implore the favor of the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality, 
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Responsorial Psalm
87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7

R.    (Zec 8:23) God is with us.

His foundation upon the holy mountains
    the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
    more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
    O city of God!

R.    God is with us.

I tell of Egypt and Babylon
    among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
    “This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
     “One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
    is the Most High LORD.”

R.    God is with us.

They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
    “This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
    “My home is within you.”

R.    God is with us.

Alleluia
Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.

REFLECTION:

This passage indicates the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, which was strong in Jesus' time. However, the disciples’ way of dealing with the issue and the Lord’s way differ greatly. The disciples were furious when they were not received in the village of the Samaritans and wanted revenge. Jesus said no.

What causes feelings of revenge to enter into me? Do I sometimes feel a desire for revenge on some person, or some group, with whom I cannot resolve my differences? Could I place those feelings before the Lord in silence and pray to become more like Christ in my attitudes?

PRAYER:

Jesus, you will not be distracted by any setbacks placed before you. Ignite in me the flame of your steadfast spirit so that I may follow you to the end.

The Least Among You Is The Greatest

September 27, 2021, Monday
MEMORIAL OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 455

Reading I
Zec 8:1-8

This word of the LORD of hosts came:
    Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
        stirred to jealous wrath for her.
    Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
    and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
    and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
    the holy mountain.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:  Old men and old women,
    each with staff in hand because of old age,
    shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
    Even if this should seem impossible
    in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
    shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
    says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
    Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
    and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
    with faithfulness and justice.

Responsorial Psalm
102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23

R.    (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
    and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
    and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
    and not despised their prayer.

R.    The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Let this be written for the generation to come,
    and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
    from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
    to release those doomed to die.”

R.    The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

The children of your servants shall abide,
    and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
    and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
    and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

R.    The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Alleluia
Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest. 
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply, 
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name 
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him, 
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

REFLECTION:

Over and over Jesus tries to get his disciples to see that they are called to serve, not to dominate. In the kingdom of God everyone is equal: there are no positions of power, no hierarchy. Everyone is a daughter or son of God, all are fully loved by God.

Certificates, titles, recognition and honors come with the years and may mislead people who don’t know what really matters. Being in Jesus’ company reminded the disciples of his perspective. What will help me to receive Jesus message now? What does being like a child mean to me?

PRAYER:

In prayer we must grapple with these extraordinary truths and try to let them sink in, so that we emerge from our time with God with a more inclusive and respectful attitude to others. Prayer stretches our imagination: prayer is real only when we begin to see and love the world as God does.

Do not Prevent Him

September 26, 2021, Sunday
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)
NATIONAL SEAFARER'S DAY
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 137

Reading I
Nm 11:25-29

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 tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, "
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said,
"Moses, my lord, stop them."
But Moses answered him,
"Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14

R. (9a)    The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
    refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to the simple.

R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
    enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
    all of them just.

R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Though your servant is careful of them,
    very diligent in keeping them,
Yet who can detect failings?
    Cleanse me from my unknown faults!

R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
    let it not rule over me.
Then shall I be blameless and innocent
    of serious sin. 

R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Reading II
Jas 5:1-6

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 righteous one;
he offers you no resistance.

Alleluia
Cf. Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

At that time, John said 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, 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.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

REFLECTION:

The followers of Jesus are not meant to be an exclusive group which despises the good work that others do. We are encouraged to work with other Christians, and indeed with anyone of good will. The old slogan, ‘Outside the Church there is no salvation’ was a stumbling block to many good people, and must be left aside. Boasting has no place in the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit blows like the wind wherever it pleases, and is at work incognito in every heart. God has a large imagination and labors to orchestrate all things for the world’s good.

PRAYER:

Lord, self-renunciation and attention to the needs of our brothers and sisters are the hallmark of belonging to you. You call me to be a stepping stone for others, not a stumbling block.

The disciples did not understand Jesus

September 25, 2021, Saturday
Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 454

Reading I
Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a

I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:
there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered, “To measure Jerusalem,
to see how great is its width and how great its length.”
Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,
and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,
“Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst.”
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.

Responsorial Psalm
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

R.    (see 10d)  The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
    proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
    he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.

R.    The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
    he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
    they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.

R.    The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
    and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
    I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.

R.    The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Alleluia
See 2 Tm 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:43b-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

REFLECTION:

See how Jesus emphasizes his words; he knows that the disciples will find them difficult to accept. It is still the case. Sometimes it is easier for me to accept that I might betray Jesus than it is for me to receive his assurance of continuing love and presence. I ask, now, that I might listen to Jesus’ words and not be preoccupied by my own hesitation.

PRAYER:

Lord, when things go badly wrong and I am discouraged, remind me of your Passion. Then I will be able to continue on, in the belief that you have radically defeated the evil of the world from the inside. 

You are the Christ of God

September 24, 2021, Friday
Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 453

Reading I
Hg 2:1-9

In the second year of King Darius,
on the twenty-first day of the seventh month,
the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
Tell this to the governor of Judah,
Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak,
and to the remnant of the people:
Who is left among you
that saw this house in its former glory?
And how do you see it now?
Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?
But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD,
and take courage, Joshua, high priest, son of Jehozadak,
And take courage, all you people of the land,
says the LORD, and work!
For I am with you, says the LORD of hosts.
This is the pact that I made with you
when you came out of Egypt,
And my spirit continues in your midst;
do not fear!
For thus says the LORD of hosts:
One moment yet, a little while,
and I will shake the heavens and the earth,
the sea and the dry land.
I will shake all the nations,
and the treasures of all the nations will come in,
And I will fill this house with glory,
says the LORD of hosts.
Mine is the silver and mine the gold,
says the LORD of hosts.
Greater will be the future glory of this house
than the former, says the LORD of hosts;
And in this place I will give you peace,
says the LORD of hosts!

Responsorial Psalm
43:1, 2, 3, 4

R.    (5) Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight
    against a faithless people;
    from the deceitful and impious man rescue me.

R.    Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

For you, O God, are my strength.
    Why do you keep me so far away?
Why must I go about in mourning,
    with the enemy oppressing me?

R.    Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Send forth your light and your fidelity;
    they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
    to your dwelling place.

R.    Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Then will I go in to the altar of God,
    the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
    O God, my God!

R.    Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Alleluia
Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

REFLECTION:

This is a crucial moment in Jesus’ life. He asks the question which lies at the heart of Christian faith and theology: ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter becomes the spokesperson for this little contingent of believers. Only later will they grasp how the term Messiah is understood by Jesus. Suffering, rejection and death await him, but then glory.

PRAYER:

Lord, to follow you I too must embark on a personal discovery of who you are. Give me the grace to walk this faith-journey. May I not keep you at arm’s length by putting a protective shield around myself, but help me rather to daily embrace you on the path of discipleship, with its pains and joys.

Herod is Anxious To See Jesus

September 23, 2021, Thursday 
MEMORIAL OF SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA, PRIEST (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 452

Reading I
Hg 1:1-8

On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai
to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:  
This people says:
“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”
(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it
and receive my glory, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

R.    (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.

Sing to the LORD a new song
    of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R.    The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
    let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
    and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R.    The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
    This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R.    The Lord takes delight in his people.

Alleluia
Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

REFLECTION:

The Gospel today brings to light a very important point: to simply know about somebody is very different from actually knowing them personally. Through the gift of grace we can know Jesus, and our prayer is our communication with a friend, not with an acquaintance. If you are blessed in having some close friends you then understand the difference. Recall then the words of Jesus, “I do not call you servants any longer…I have called you friends” (John 15:15). You are never alone when you return his offer of friendship.

How do you react to Herod’s ‘perplexity’? Let it stimulate you to ask the fundamental question, ‘Who is Jesus for me?’

PRAYER:

Lord, may I recognize you in the moments of grace that come my way. May I be open to you, no matter under what disguise you come to me.

Jesus Sends Out The Twelve

September 22, 2021, Wednesday
Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 451

Reading I
Ezr 9:5-9

At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness,
and with cloak and mantle torn I fell on my knees,
stretching out my hands to the LORD, my God.
I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you,
O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads
and our guilt reaches up to heaven.
From the time of our fathers even to this day
great has been our guilt,
and for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up,
we and our kings and our priests,
to the will of the kings of foreign lands,
to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace,
as is the case today.
“And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God,
who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place;
thus our God has brightened our eyes
and given us relief in our servitude.
For slaves we are, but in our servitude our God has not abandoned us;
rather, he has turned the good will
of the kings of Persia toward us.
Thus he has given us new life
to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins,
and has granted us a fence in Judah and Jerusalem.”

Responsorial Psalm
Tobit 13:2, 3-4a, 4befghn, 7-8

R.    (1b) Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

He scourges and then has mercy;
    he casts down to the depths of the nether world,
    and he brings up from the great abyss.
No one can escape his hand.

R.    Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Praise him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles,
    for though he has scattered you among them,
    he has shown you his greatness even there.

R.    Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

So now consider what he has done for you,
    and praise him with full voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness,
    and exalt the King of ages.

R.    Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

In the land of my exile I praise him
    and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.

R.    Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones,
    and may all of you praise his majesty.
Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise.

R.    Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Alleluia
Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

REFLECTION:

His promise is that he will be always with us if we allow him to use us in our weakness. He entrusts us with his gifts and healing power. The final word ‘everywhere’ suggests that the grace we carry extends beyond all human boundaries. ‘Every act of love, every mute uplifting of the heart, draws the whole world nearer to God.’

Jesus weds power and authority with compassionate love and humble service. I pray for the Church that its ministers may do likewise.

PRAYER:

Lord, today our world is blessed with technologies of which you knew nothing. Help me to rediscover the heart of discipleship - an absolute reliance on your providence and the freedom that follows from trusting in you. 

The Call Of Matthew

September 21, 2021, Tuesday
FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (Red)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 643

Reading I
Eph 4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 

Responsorial Psalm
19:2-3, 4-5

R.    (5)  Their message goes out through all the earth.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
    and night to night imparts knowledge.

R.    Their message goes out through all the earth.

Not a word nor a discourse
    whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
    and to the ends of the world, their message.

R.    Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia
See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 9:9-13

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.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
    I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

REFLECTION:

Jesus is inclusive – even ‘tax collectors and sinners’ are welcomed. They represent those whose professions and social status are ‘not respectable’. But Jesus shows that he has come for all people, without exception, and especially the weak and the vulnerable, the ‘sick’ and the ‘sinner’.

How inclusive and compassionate Jesus is in his ministry! I ask myself if I am prejudiced against any individuals or groups? Lord, help me to become more like you in thought, word and deed. Make me large-hearted.

PRAYER:

Lord, your call to Matthew comes right in the midst of the ordinariness of his life. He does not hesitate or delay in order to balance the books, but gets up and follows you. As I move through this day, keep me alert to the many ways your grace seeks entry into my life. May I respond generously and without delay to your calls.