Sunday September 1, 2024
Twenty-Second Sunday of the Year (B)
Office: Psalter Week 2, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Creed. Preface of Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Vespers II of the 22nd Sunday of the Year
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Theme of the Sunday: THE LAW OF GOD AND THE TRADITIONS OF THE ANCIENTS.
There are people who consider themselves good Christians because they practise certain rites and perform certain devotions. Are these what determine who is a true disciple of Christ? The readings of today provide a reply to this question and put us on our guard against the danger of placing on the same level the commandment of God and human traditions. The first reading praises the law of God and declares that it must not be interfered with. It may be rejected, but not modified. The gospel tells us that the teachers in Israel had distorted the commandment of God with their traditions and put external cleanliness among the strictest observances of the law. Jesus draws our attention instead to the need for purity of heart. The second reading contains a call to practise true religion that does not stop at futile practices, but is committed to helping the orphan and the widow.
FIRST READING
“You shall not add to the word which I commanded you…. keep the commandments of the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 4:1-2.6-8)
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, gives you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. “Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day?”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 15:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5 (R. la)
R/. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is just,
and speaks the truth from his heart.
Who does not slander with his tongue. R/.
Who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the Lord. R/.
Who lends no money at interest,
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken. R/.
SECOND READING
“Be doers of the word.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 1:17-18.2 lb-22.27)
My dearest brethren: Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA James 1:18
Alleluia. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“You leave the commandment of God, and holdfast the tradition of men.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23)
At that time: When the Pharisees gathered together to Jesus, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. ’You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.” And he called the people to him again, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him. “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As we turn our hearts and minds to God, let us pray for humility in the practice of our faith and ask for the grace to avoid the error of self-righteousness.
FOR THE CHURCH: that her leaders may ever remain zealous in preaching Christ to the world and work for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful. We pray O Lord.
FOR THOSE IN CIVIL AUTHORITY: that they may protect the right of the people to freedom of worship, so that all can wholeheartedly worship God according to their consciences. We pray O Lord.
FOR CHRISTIANS FACING PERSECUTION ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR FAITH: that God may grant them the fortitude they need to be able to endure the trials that come their way. We pray O Lord.
FOR THIS WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY: that our love for God may be expressed not by the mere observance of religious rituals, but by a life that is consistent with God’s commands. We pray O 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. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
CELEBRANT:
Lord, in your love and goodness, you have called us to share in your glory. Graciously hear the prayers we have made to you and grant that under no circumstance may we prefer human laws to your commandments. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Jesus teaches a new understanding of religion, our relationship with God, and worship. The old idea of religion emphasized external piety while the new idea was about interior spirituality. When religion becomes a game of pretence, we practice it to impress others and we do things out of a deep desire for praise, approval and applause. The instructions of Jesus regarding our spiritual exercises can be summarized as “Do the right thing with the right intention.” Mother Teresa says, “Today God loves the world through us. Especially in times like these, when people are trying to make God ‘was’, it is you and I, by our love, by the purity of our lives, by our compassion, who prove to the world that God ‘is’.
BLESSING FOR THE NEW MONTH
Thank you Lord for this new month of September.
You have given it to us out of your love for us, may we strive to use every opportunity you will give to us to do your will and bring glory to your name.
May Jesus walk with you, may he lead you in the path of righteousness and may he make the good you desire to manifest at the appointed time.
Do not be afraid of what you will face in this new month, just be rest assured that with Jesus by your side everything will turn around for your good.
Let your lamp keep burning brightly and when the master returns, he will find you prepared and he will reward you immensely.
I pray that Jesus will do for you in this new month what no human being can do for you. Just believe it in your heart and it will come to pass.
May God protect and bless you throughout this month and beyond. Amen. New month, new blessings, new opportunities.
Meditation: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8/Matthew 25:1-13
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God. – Ephesians 1:7
– O Lord I beseech you, to grant me the grace needed never to be comfortable with sin and everything that appeals to carnality in the name of Jesus the Lord.
– O Lord God of mercy, extend your mercy and compassion on all who abuses your grace. Make them to understand what grace actually means in Jesus name.
Let Us Pray,
Father, I am sincerely sorry for wasting the grace made available to me each time I am accosted or confronted by evil or sin. By the help of your grace and from this day forward, I receive strength not to overlook the grace made available to me in Jesus name
