Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 09, 2024
Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
09th September 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Brethren: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among Gentiles, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Psalm 5:5-6, 7, 12 (R. 9a)
R/. Lead me, Lord, in your justice.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Luke 6:6-11
On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: God wants us to live a life that is blossoming and flourishing, and bears fruits in concrete kindness toward others. But this growth is stifled in the case of many
1. In the gospel, there is a healing of a man with a withered hand. Jesus does this on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees and scribes accuse him of violation of the Sabbath law. In fact, it is they who are withered. Their faith, sensitivity, their concern, and charity toward the needy are withered. It is they who need healing more than the physically withered-handed man.
2. Jesus is not frightened or intimidated by the possible attack of the Pharisees and scribes. His compassion for the sick man is stronger than the fear of criticism. The spirit of benevolence drives him to be determined and undeterred to do the healing. For him, doing good and saving life is more important than a heartless practice of law.
3. What is the use of keeping the law faithfully but doing harm and destroying life? What is more important – faithfulness to the secondary laws like the Sabbath or faithfulness to the supreme law of charity? That is why Jesus poses the question, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?”
4. Their jealousy, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy wither their hearts. Consequently, they fail to vibrate toward Jesus or the sick man. Their sense of optimism and appreciation toward Jesus is withered. Their fraternal sensitivity toward the sick man’s need for healing is withered. Similarly, in the first reading, we have another list of withering causes. They are namely immorality, boastful arrogance, and sinful influence symbolized by ‘old leaven’.
5. We also find a clear contrast between the interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes on one hand and the interaction between Jesus and the withered man on the other hand. Before the healing, the Pharisees and scribes are on the watch out to accuse him and after the healing, they become furious and plot against him.
6. But, the man with the withered hand readily responds and obeys Jesus: When Jesus tells him, ‘Come and stand here’, he rises and stands there; when Jesus asks him, ‘Stretch out your hand’, he does so.
Practice: Many suffer from withered hands, feet, mouths, ears, eyes, minds, hearts, and souls! In brief, this is a loss of spiritual and fraternal sensitivity. Physical soundness is not enough. Holistic healing is needed
