TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B THEME: Messiah, but What Kind of Messiah?
Date: 13 Sep 2015
First Reading
FIRST READING Isaiah 50:5-9
“I gave my back to those who struck me.”
A reading from the book of Isaiah
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward, I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God helps me, therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?
The word of the Lord
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Alleluia.
Responsorial Psalm
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 116:1-6.8-9
RESPONSE: I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living
Or Alleluia
I love the Lord, for he has heard / my voice, my appeal;
for he has turned his ear to / whenever I call. R
They surrounded me, the snares of death;
the anguish of the grave has found me;
anguish and sorrow I found.
I called on the name of the Lord:
“Deliver my soul, O Lord!” R
How gracious is the Lord, and just;
our God has compassion.
The lord protects the simple;
I was brought low and he saved me. R
He has kept my soul from death, / my eyes from tears,
and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the king. R
Second Reading
SECOND READING James 2:14-18
“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James
What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, “You have faith and I have works, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works, will show you my faith.
The word of the Lord
Gospel
GOSPEL Mark 8:27-35
“You are the Christ… the Son of man must suffer many things.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time: Jesus went on with his disciples, to the village of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told him, John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets,” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are on the side of God, but not of men.” And he called to him the multitude with his disciples and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.”
The Gospel of the Lords
Reflection
REFLECTION Don Schwager
We, too, have a share in the mission and victory of Jesus Christ
If we want to share in the victory of the Lord Jesus, then we must take up our cross and follow where he leads us. What is the "cross" that you and I must take up each day? When my will crosses (does not align) with God's will, then his will must be done. To know Jesus Christ is to know the power of his victory on the cross where he defeated sin and conquered death through his dying and rising again on the third day.
The Holy Spirit gives each of us the gifts and strength we need to live as sons and daughters of God our heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to personally know and experience the love of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit gives us the power and help we need to follow Jesus daily and live the Gospel faithfully. The Holy Spirit fills us with boldness, confidence, and courage to witness to others the joy, truth, and freedom of the Gospel. Do you believe that Jesus has power to change and transform your life through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit? Who do you say that Jesus is for you?
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and my Savior. Make my faith strong and help me to live in the victory of the cross by rejecting sin and by accepting your will."
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