Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 14, 2024
Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
14th September 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Numbers 21:4b-9
In those days: The people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
Psalm 78:1BC-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 R. (see 7b)
R/. Never forget the deeds of the Lord!
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: John 3:13-17
At that time: Jesus said to Nicodemus, “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Often in life the unfavourable realities may not totally change or vanish. But what can change is the perspective and the purpose of them
1. Today we venerate and exalt the cross. Cross is celebrated. This looks rather absurd. For quite evidently, the cross indicates misery, ignominy, disgrace, and failure. All the more, no normal human mind can accept a God who is infinitely powerful but succumbing to such a helpless death.
2. A simple question arose at that time of the crucifixion, in those who looked at the crucified, “He cannot save himself, and how can he save others?” Today, the same question can arise in many as well.
3. It is here we need to understand the real mystery of the cross. It is not a sign of the helpless fate of an individual called Jesus who claimed to be the Son of God. It is not the defeat of a reformer at the hands of some wicked authorities.
4. It is not the failure of God. Rather, the cross stands as a symbol of loyalty and commitment, patience and perseverance, courage and confidence. Cross reflects the human predicament in the face of evil and wickedness. Cross indicates the cost of holiness and goodness.
5. Cross concretely shows us what to do and how to proceed when we come across suffering and persecution for the sake of God and good. If God wanted, he would have easily avoided the whole shame of the cross. He would have instantly eliminated all his opponents.
6. But, He did not do so. It is because the cross is not only his story but our story as well. Cross is certainly the climax and culmination of his incarnated divinity. But it is also the symbol of our own human suffering. There is suffering in our life and that is too enormous.
7. This suffering may be natural, in the sense that it happens as part of life and is not under our control. This includes situations like death, separation, loss, failure, defeat, or natural calamities. At times, we wonder why these happen and why we are the victims.
8. There are also sufferings that are vocational, that is which happen due to our vocation and mission. Whenever we stand for the right values, in other words, for God and good, we will face adversities and afflictions.
9. Now, whatever the type of suffering, the cross comes as an answer. Do not lose heart. Persevere. Accept in the spirit of patience and surrender. All the more, it is worth suffering for God and good.
10. It may appear to be a losing and lost battle. But for sure, there is victory and reward. Cross is not the end but is the pathway to glory. This is the way cross becomes relieving and comforting. It becomes the means and weapon of salvation.
Practice: Cross teaches us to be courageous, surrender to God, and persevere in times of suffering. Following the spirit of the cross and the example of the crucified makes our suffering meritorious
