Sunday September 8, 2024
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Office: Psalter Week 3, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Creed. Preface of Sunday
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers II of the 23rd Sunday of the Year
Theme of the Sunday: JESUS CURES THE DEAF AND THE DUMB.
The first reading uses the image of the deaf person to show us what God would one day do for his people. The Israelites had shut their ears and no longer listened to the Lord. But one day God was to cure their deafness. By describing the healing, the gospel is saying that the messianic times promised in the first reading have arrived. Ears are now opened, and tongues loosened in order to announce the Gospel. The second reading continues this theme, describing as it does a community deaf to the word of God and to the voice of the poor.
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
“Then the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 35:4-7a)
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 146:6c-7.8-9a.9bc-10ab (R. 1b)
R/. Come, Lord, and save us.
Or: Alleluia.
It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever,
Who does justice to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
The Lord who sets prisoners free. R/.
It is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind,
The Lord who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just,
The Lord who protects the stranger. R/.
R/. Come, Lord, and save us.
Or: Alleluia.
The Lord upholds the orphan and the widow,
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever,
the God of Sion from age to age. R/.
SECOND READING
“Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be heirs of the kingdom?”
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (James 2: 1-5)
My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Matthew 4:23
Alleluia. Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:31-37)
At that time: Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
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:
God the father, through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, continues his work of healing among us. Let us ask him to heal our infirmities and for the grace to promote the wellbeing of one another.
FOR THE CHURCH AND HER MINISTERS: that God may give them the grace to be compassionate like Jesus Christ, particularly in their care of the sick and the dying. We pray O Lord.
FOR LEADERS: that our leaders may always value life, and work towards providing adequate health facilities for the good of the citizenry. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE MANY SICK PEOPLE WHO ARE ABANDONED AND HAVE NOBODY TO CARE FOR THEM: that God may send helpers to them, comfort them in their pains, and use us to reveal his loving face to them. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE GRACE OF LOVE AND COMPASSION ON ALL OF US GATHERED HERE: that God may give us the grace to sincerely love one another and never close our hearts to the needs of those who look up to us for help. 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 our God, you are the giver of every good gift. Look with pity on your holy people gathered around your altar and grant that your favour may remain ever with us. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The world is increasingly becoming deaf an indifferent to the word of God and we are unable to articulate appropriately the gospel and to proclaim it powerfully. We are influenced by secularist ideologies that have made us incapable of evangelizing the world. Like the man in today’s gospel, we are cut off from the voice which calls us to life and speaks the word of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus as the word-made-flesh wants to lead us away from the crowd of the surrounding culture and all that makes us deaf to his teachings, he wants to plug us once again to his Church and to the sacraments so that we may once again hear his word and become good evangelizers and bearer of his word to the world.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
-Pray for pardon for the times you were too judgmental on those around you.
-Prayer for the grace to keep standing strong amidst the sinful environment we live in.
-Pray the “Hail Holy Queen” for the conversion of hardened sinners.
-Pray that you will not be among the weeds that will be cast into fire at harvest.
Let Us Pray,
Dear Lord, as I look at my life, I realize I am not as on fire for you as I should be. Help me to see the true state of my heart and attitude, so that I will be moved to action. Show me the need to fan into flame those things you have given me, so that I can be of greater benefit to my fellow human being. Forgive me for allowing the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn low in my life. From this prayer on, I am going to stir myself, to stir up the gift of God to fan into flame the things you have given me. I want to be a greater blessing in your Kingdom! Thank you, Lord, for helping me to be just that. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
THE MIRACULOUS 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA, 8TH SEPTEMBER, TO 31ST OCT. 2024
FIRST 27 DAYS IN PETITION (DAY 1)
The Joyful Mystery:
Let us offer this mystery for the intentions of all our benefactors and all those supporting this online Ministry. Through the intercession of our Mother Mary, God should guide, protect and provide for them and their family and remove lack from their lives, (Please, state your personal petition) we pray O Lord.
1. + In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
2. Hail Mary.
3. Prayer before the recitation of the rosary
IN PETITION:
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. Say the Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, Glory Be.
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 …
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit amen
