Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 25, 2024
Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time
25th September 2024 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Proverbs 30:5-9
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 (R. 105a)
R/. Your word is lamp for my feet, Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 9:1-6
At that time: Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: We are sent on the very same mission of the Lord, to bring a healing touch to the world languishing in sin and precarity. This is possible only with the power of the Lord
1. Jesus calls us not just to keep us with himself in his personal service. But essentially he trains us in discipleship for a mission. Thus all discipleship is for apostleship. It is his own mission which he himself received from the Father.
2. That is, to establish the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the reign of God’s love, justice, and peace. This reminds us that we should never privatize the mission. We should always bear in mind that we are only stewards and care-makers and not owners and proprietors.
3. This should constantly foster within us a profound sense of humility and accountability toward the mission. It is entrusted and not self-created.
4. Therefore, in a true mission, there is no scope for self-projection or self- promotion, or self-glory. Any seeking of self-interests is a contradiction to the very sense of mission. A sense of dutifulness and faithfulness marks a true mission.
5. Any attempts at establishing petty kingdoms based on affinities like caste, region, language, culture, rite et cetera are totally hostile to the commitment to the one kingdom of God. And any forces of disunity, division, and discrimination are against the very concept of mission.
6. This kingdom–mission is carried out through preaching and healing, that is, both by the power of word and deed. Therefore a faithful mission cannot be partial, merely confined to preaching, however powerful it be. It must be blended together with corresponding works of goodness.
7. Two essential requirements or conditions for this mission are repentance and trust in God’s mercy and detachment and dependence on God’s providence. It s the profound spirit of repentance and trust.
8. Another prerequisite is detachment and entrustment to God’s providential care. This is seen in Jesus’ exhortation: “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money, and no extra tunic”.
9. This is not to depend on worldly securities and guarantees, not to be attached to them. It is because we have God Himself, our greatest source and resource, our strength and provider.
10. When we take up His mission in trust and entrustment, then surely God will equip us with His own power and authority over all demons and sicknesses. However, we need not lose heart when we face resistance and rejection. That is part of the test of our mission. We must accept such experiences with patience and forbearance.
Practice: When God is with us, no one and nothing can be against us. In all our missionary endeavors, what should be uppermost in our minds is fidelity to His will and plans. Let us not be caught up with worldly concerns like success or winning
