SUNDAY JULY 14, 2024
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Office: Psalter Week 3, Te Deum
Mass proper, Gloria, Creed.
Preface of Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Vespers II of the 15th Sunday of the Year.
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Theme of the Sunday: THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL AND MONEY.
Should the person who teaches the word of God be paid? The readings today invite us to reflect on what might happen if the bringer of the Gospel draws financial advantages from his preaching. The first shows us the prophet Amos, who tells us that money is a great danger for the freedom of the prophet who announces the word of God. The gospel lists the instructions of Jesus to his disciples. They must avoid even the smallest suspicion that they may be working for their own economic advantage. The second reading speaks of the gratuity of the love of our Father, and is an invitation to share gratuitously with others the gifts we have received.
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you. We bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
FIRST READING
“Go, prophesy to my people.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos (Amos 7:12- 15)
In those days: Amaziah the priest of Bethel said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”’
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 85:9ab and 10.11- 12.13-14 (R. 8)
R/. Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what the Lord God speaks;
he speaks of peace for his people and his faithful.
His salvation is near for those who fear him,
and his glory will dwell in our land. R/.
Merciful love and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have kissed.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth,
and justice look down from heaven. R/.
R/. Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.
Also the Lord will bestow his bounty,
and our earth shall yield its increase.
Justice will march before him,
and guide his steps on the way. R/.
SECOND READING
“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.*
In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
The word of the Lord.*
ALLELUIA Ephesians 1:17-18
Alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He began to send them out.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6 : 7-13)
Jesus called to him the Twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
THE CREED (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As Christians, we are called to the mission of proclaiming God’s word and his kingdom, even in the face of rejection. Let us ask God for the grace to be able to carry out this mission faithfully.
FOR MISSIONARIES: that God may protect all those who live far away from home for the sake of proclaiming the Gospel, and bless their efforts to bring about an increase in the number of his people. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE IN PUBLIC OFFICES: that they may develop policies that prevent the earth’s resources from being plundered, and promote a system where they are distributed in a just and respectful manner. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR FAMILIES IN CONFLICT: that the Good News of Christ preached in the world today, may bring them to know peace and reconciliation. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY: that, aware of God’s goodness and faithfulness to us, we may always abandon ourselves entirely to his never-failing providence. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Almighty God, as we continue our Christian task of evangelization, may we never be swayed by material benefits or selfish gains, but be your true witnesses to the world. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Jesus Christ came into the world on a mission. This mission dominated his entire life and was the inspiration behind everything he did including his decision to choose his disciples. In the Old Testament God also chose and sent prophets to the people of Israel often to bring back the people to the right path. But there were false prophets as well who told the people especially the leaders what they wanted to hear and not what God wanted them to do. This is what happened in the case of Amos and Amaziah. The former was a prophet who, chosen by God, warned the people of Israel to change their ways and repent while Amaziah, the false prophet was more interested in material benefits. He saw the task of a prophet as a profession instead of a vocation. Hence he tells Amos to go back to Judah and earn his bread there. Jesus understands this temptation and instructs his disciples on what is expected of a true preacher of the word of God – detachment. God has a purpose for humanity; and to discover it and be dedicated to it, a true disciple needs to cultivate the virtue of detachment from the material things and remain open to the Holy Spirit.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
“But I will bless those who put their trust in me. They are like trees growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. They are not afraid when hot weather comes, because their leaves stay green; they have no worries when there is no rain; they keep bearing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7, 8
– Ask God for the gift of faith to trust Jesus as the shepherd of your life.
– Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of those that put their trust in idols and gods that they may flee from destruction and surrender to the living God.
Let Us Pray,
PRAYER FOR TRUST IN JESUS BY ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of your presence, your love, and your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things. In the name of Jesus. Amen
