SEPTEMBER 10, 2022, Saturday
Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 442
Reading 1
1 Cor 10:14-22
My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.
I am speaking as to sensible people;
judge for yourselves what I am saying.
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one Body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.
Look at Israel according to the flesh;
are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
So what am I saying?
That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?
Or that an idol is anything?
No, I mean that what they sacrifice,
they sacrifice to demons, not to God,
and I do not want you to become participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 116:12-13, 17-18
R. (17) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
Alleluia
JN 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
LK 6:43-49
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”
GOSPEL REFLECTION:
If I think of my life as a tree, I can ask how it is nourished and reflect on its vital quality. What ‘water’ do I soak in from the ground around me, what ‘light’ do I bask in, what ‘shade’ or ‘fruit’ do I have for the good of others? I take care of any negative conclusions of mine, remembering that judgment belongs to God alone. I ask only that the words of Jesus open me to God’s wisdom and truth.
The foundations of a building are often its least recognised feature, usually hidden and seemingly insignificant. My ‘faith foundations’ may not be known to many but are cherished by God to whom I bring them now in prayer, that they may be blessed and strengthened.
PRAYER:
Lord, mature discipleship is costly! Christians face many storms today. Without firm foundations I am in danger of being swept away. You search me and you know me, so grant me wisdom and strength to listen to your word and to live according to your truth. You are my sure and only foundation in times of distress and upheaval.
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