Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 09-16-18, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 09-16-18 | Revised New American Bible

[Salvation]

September 16, 2018

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Is 50:5-9a

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
and I called upon the name of the LORD,
"O LORD, save my life!"
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 Jas 2:14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
"Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, "
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.

Indeed someone might say,
"You have faith and I have works."
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

Alleluia Gal 6:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that I am?"
They said in reply,
"John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets."
And he asked them,
"But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said to him in reply,
"You are the Christ."
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it."

[Salvation]

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All Issues > Volume 34, Issue 5

<< Sunday, September 16, 2018 >>

24th Sunday Ordinary Time

Isaiah 50:4-9
James 2:14-18
View Readings

Psalm 116:1-6, 8-9
Mark 8:27-35
Similar Reflections

JUST YOU

"Whoever would preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will preserve it." �Mark 8:35

Jesus' first question to His disciples was not "Who do you say that I am?" (Mk 8:29) Jesus felt compelled to introduce the big question with another question: "Who do people say that I am?" (Mk 8:27) He intentionally set up the contrast between what others say and what we individually say.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we make a personal, individual decision. The saying goes: "God has no grandchildren." That means we are all called to relate to Him directly and not "once removed." We can't live on what our fathers, mothers, pastors, or teachers told us. We must know Jesus personally, not just know about Him. We have to stand on our own faith, not on anyone else's.

As individuals, "we shall all have to appear before the judgment seat of God" (Rm 14:10). It won't matter if we're better or worse. God does not compare His children. Each of us lives, dies, and is judged on the basis of his or her individual response to God's grace. Jesus' question remains: "Who do you say that I am?"

Prayer: Jesus, I repent of my sins. Forgive me, come into my heart, take over my life. Fill me with Your Spirit. You are my Lord.

Promise: "Morning after morning He opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back." —Is 50:4-5

Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus, God of forgiveness, mercy, and love.

[Salvation]