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.” 

September 8, 2024 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Is 35:4-7

    Thus says the Lord: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.

    Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then     the tongue of the mute will sing.

    Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water. 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 146

 R– Praise the Lord, my soul! 

* The God of Jacob keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free. R.

* The Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord raises up those who were bowed down. The Lord loves the just; the Lord protects strangers. R.

* The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia! R. 

Second Reading - Jas 2:1-5 

    My brothers and sisters: Show no partiality as you ad- here to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among your- selves and become judges with evil designs?

    Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people. 
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Mk 7:31-37 

Jesus left the district of

    Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.

    People brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue. Then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” – that is, “Be opened!” – And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

    Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” 

September 1, 2024 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary (Time Year B)

 

First Reading - Dt 4:1-2.6-8

    Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you, nor subtract from it.

    Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 15

R –The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord!

* Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. R.

* Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. R

* Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent.Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed. R. 

Second Reading - Jas 1:17-18. 21-22.27

    Dearest brothers and sisters:

    All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth, that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

    Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth, that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Mk 7:1-8.14-15.21-23 

    When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.

    The Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, such as the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.

    So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, hypocrites, as it is written:

    ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’

    You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

    Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person, but the things that come out from within are what defile.

    From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” 

August 25, 2024 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Jos 24:1-2. 15-17.18

    Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers.

    When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve: the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

    But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods. For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along all our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 34

R –Taste and see the goodness of the Lord!

* I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R.

* The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. R.

* When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. R

* Many are the troubles of the just one, but out of them all the Lord delivers him. He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. R

Second Reading - Eph 5:21-32 

    Brothers and sisters: 

    Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church, he himself the savior of the body. As the Church is sub- ordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his body.

    “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Your words, Lord, are spirit and life. You have the words of everlasting life.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 6:60-69 

    Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

    Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

    As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 

    Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” 

August 18, 2024 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - Prv 9:1-6

    Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table.

    She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: “Let who- ever is simple turn in here!” To the one who lacks understanding, she says, “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live. Advance in the way of understanding.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 34

R -–Taste and see the goodness of the Lord! 

* I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R.

* Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. R.

* Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress He saved him. R.

Second Reading - Eph 5:15-20 

    Brothers and sisters:

    Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.

    Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to under- stand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia! 
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him,” says the Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 6:51-58 

    Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, say- ing, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

    Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

August 11, 2024 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

 

First Reading - 1 Kgs 19:4-8

    Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death, saying: “This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

    He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, but the angel of the Lord came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” He got up, ate, and drank.

    Then, strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 34

R –Taste and see the goodness of the Lord!

* I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R.

* Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. R.

* Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the afflicted man called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. R.

* The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the Lord is. Blessed the man who takes refuge in him. R.

Second Reading - Eph 4:30-5:2 

    Brothers and sisters:

    Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.

    All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

    So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” says the Lord. “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.

It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”