October 27, 2024 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Jer 31:7-9

    Thus says the Lord: “Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child. 

     They shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. 

     For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 126 

R –The Lord has done great things for us; we are fi lled with joy!

*When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was 
filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. R. 

* Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. R. 

* Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. R.

* Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. R

Second Reading - Heb 5:1-6

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 

    No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorifi ed himself in becoming high priest; but rather the One who said to him: “You are my son: this day I have begotten you.” Just as he says in another place: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Gospel Acclamation 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to light through his Gospel. 
 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:46-52

    As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. 

    On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” 

    Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately the man received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

October 20, 2024 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Is 53:10-11

    The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. 

    Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days. 

     Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial - Psalm Ps 33 

R –Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you!

* Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. R. 

* See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. R. 

* Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield. May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you. R. 

Second Reading - Heb 4:14-16

     Brothers and sisters: 

     Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession of faith. 

    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 

    So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel Acclamation 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 
 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:35-45

    James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can!” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 

    When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 

    Jesus summoned the Twelve and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  

October 13, 2024 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading -Wis 7:7-11

    I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. 

    I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her, because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. 

    Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. 

    Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 90 

R –Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

* Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! R. 

* Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Make us glad, for the days when you affl icted us, for the years when we saw evil. R. 

* Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children. And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! R. 

Second Reading - Heb 4:12-13

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 

    No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

Gospel Acclamation

 Alleluia! Alleluia!
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:17-30

    As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 

     You shall not kill. 

     You shall not commit adultery. 

     You shall not steal. 

     You shall not bear false witness. 

     You shall not defraud. 

     Honor your father and your mother.” 

    The man replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 

    At that statement the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 

    Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of  God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” 

    Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands – with persecutions! – and eternal life in the age to come.”

October 6, 2024 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year (B)

First Reading - Gn 2:18-24

    The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."

     So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. 

    So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. 

     When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken."

      That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 128 

R –May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives!

* Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork. Blessed shall you be, and favored. R. 

* Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; your children like olive plants around your table. R. 

* Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. R. 

* May you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! R. 

Second Reading - Heb 2:9-11

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Jesus, “for a little while,” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 

    For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated, all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”

Gospel Acclamation 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 10:2-16

    The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” 

    They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” 

    In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” 

    People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them. 

September 29, 2024 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Nm 11:25-29

    The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, the Lord bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied. Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp.

    So, when a young man quickly told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp,” Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” But Moses answered him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 19 

R –The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart! 

* The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. R.

* The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. R.

* Though your servant is careful of them, very diligent in keeping them, yet who can detect failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults! R.

* From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over me. Then shall I be blameless and innocent of serious sin. R. 

Second Reading - Jas 5:1-6 

    Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire.

    You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 

    You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance. 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mk 9:38-43.45.47-48 

    At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not pre- vent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.

    Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not 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 millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

    If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ”

September 22, 2024 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading - Wis 2:12.17-20 

    The wicked say: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us, he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.

    Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.

    For, if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.

    With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.

    Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”

Responsorial Psalm -  Ps. 54 

R  - The Lord upholds my life! 

*  O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. R.

* For the haughty men have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. R. 

* Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O Lord, for its goodness. R.

Second Reading - Jas 3:16-4:3 

    Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.

    But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

    Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?

    You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mk 9:30-37

    Jesus and his disciples began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.

    He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

    They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

    Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

September 15, 2024 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Is 50:5-9

    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

R – I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living! 

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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 

Second Reading - 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 what they need for their bodies, 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. 

Gospel Acclamation

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. 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 any- one 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 Jesus 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 for the sake of the gospel will save it.”