Sunday September 29, 2024
TWENTY-SIXTH 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
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Theme of the Sunday: THEY DO GOOD. .BUT ARE NOT OF OUR GROUP.
The main theme of today’s reading is the one presented in the first reading and in the first part of the gospel. It is the fanaticism and envy that we harbour, often unconsciously, towards those who do good but are not part of our group. The Spirit acts freely through any person and is not compelled to keep within any boundary. The second reading could be used as an example to prove this point. Aren’t there Christians who, as James says, pile up riches, don’t share their goods with the poor and exploit the workers? On the other hand, don’t we know atheists who are good and generous, and sensitive to injustice towards the poorest and the defenceless?
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
“Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets.”
A reading from the Book of Numbers (Numbers 11 :25-29)
In those days: The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, forbid them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm19:7.9.11- 12.13 (R. 8ab)
R/. The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart.
The law of the Lord is perfect;
it revives the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are steadfast;
they give wisdom to the simple. R/.
The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding forever.
The judgements of the Lord are true;
they are, all of them, just. R/.
R/. The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart.
So in them your servant finds instruction;
great reward is in their keeping.
But who can detect their own errors?
From hidden faults acquit me. R/.
From presumption restrain your servant;
may it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless,
clean from grave sin. R/.
SECOND READING
“Your riches have rotted.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 5: 1-6)
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA John 17:17b (a)
Alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; sanctify us in the truth. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He that is not against us is for us. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48)
At that time: John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”
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:
The Gospel invites us to detach ourselves from whatever causes us to sin, so that we may fittingly respond to God’s call to holiness of life. Let us turn to the Lord for the grace to live in a manner that is pleasing to him and for our other needs.
FOR THE CHURCH: that through her ministry, God’s light of salvation may reach the ends of the earth, banishing every form of evil in our world. We pray O Lord.
FOR CIVIL LEADERS: that in their service to the people, they may be just to the poor and help them improve their living conditions. We pray O Lord.
FOR OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: that we may realize that our material wealth is given to us not only for our good but also for the good of our neighbours, especially the needy ones. We pray O Lord.
FOR OURSELVES: that we may cultivate a spirit of detachment from worldly things and focus more on things relating to our eternal salvation. 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:
God our loving Father, your precepts are perfect and they guide us along the path of salvation. Help us to joyfully abide by them and, in your mercy, may you hear and answer our humble prayers. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The disciples in today’s gospel reading are worried about the fact that someone is exorcizing in Jesus’ name. They felt a sense of duty to stop the exorcist from continuing because he was not part of the group. It did not matter that the work of the kingdom was being discharged and those under captivity were being set free. Following them, and not Jesus had become the criterion of what should be permitted and what should be prevented. But Jesus had a different vision, hence his response “whoever is not against us is for us”. Unless the others inject values contrary to the values of God, we must learn to see everyone as a potential ally of the kingdom. We have no right to exclude anyone. The priority is the kingdom and those who make contributions to this kingdom by way of good works regardless of what denomination they belong to must be accepted. Let us be more generous to understand those who work for the kingdom of God.
THE MIRACULOUS 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA, 8TH SEPT. TO 31ST OCT. 2024
FIRST 27 DAYS IN PETITION
Day 22: THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
Petition: Let us pray for all those participating in this Miraculous 54-Day Rosary Novena, that through the intercession of Our Mother Mary, God will hear and answer our prayers and grant us our heart desires we pray O Lord.
1. Prayer before the recitation of the rosary
2. + In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Sign of the cross.
3. Hail Mary.
IN PETITITION: Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!
4. The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
5. The Annunciation – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Visitation – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Nativity – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Presentation – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Our Father, 10 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
6. The Hail Holy Queen.
7. Let us pray: O God whose only begotten son by his life death………..
8. Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9. Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …
10. + In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit amen.
– Promise of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
Whoever desires to obtain favors from Me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving.”
– Fr Richard Heilman February 7, 2016
