Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 28, 2024
Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time
28th September 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 & 17(R. 1)
R/. O Lord you have been our refuge, from generation to generation
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 9:43b-45
At that time: While they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Desire for enjoyment of life may be a natural human tendency. But one has to check against vanities and check upon the direction and the quality of life
1. Once again the Ecclesiastes continues the theme of vanity. Vanity is a fundamental truth and fact in human life. There is a lot of purposelessness, directionlessness, meaninglessness and emptiness. Many things that people desperately crave, seek and acquire give only temporary pleasure and satisfaction.
2. This holds true especially with youth and the pursuits in the youth. But all these give no lasting satisfaction. That is why the text says, “Youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
3. It is again this vanity that clouded the disciples of Jesus not to understand suffering as part of God’s redemptive plan. Many marveled at the great miracles and teachings of Jesus. They were caught up only within their earthly, human perspectives. So, when Jesus predicted about his passion and death, it made no sense to them.
4. Therefore, today Jesus says the same statement to us as he said to his disciples: “Let these words sink into your ears. The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men”. We are called to get rid of the layers of vanity and see the truth of our salvation.
5. The way of Jesus is the way of the cross, and a true follower never evades it. Certainly our destiny is eternal glory and joy. But this does not mean that suffering and sadness are ruled out from our life. Especially following Jesus will necessarily involve cross and struggle.
6. One cannot reach the destiny of glory, unless one walks the way of the Lord, and one cannot walk the way of the Lord, unless one walks the way of the cross. Running away from the cross in life, resenting and resisting it would amount to a failure and infidelity to our very call and identity.
7. Cross of suffering is not a matter of shame or impotence, but is a sign of authenticity, fidelity and strength of discipleship. Greatness does not consist in avoiding any sort of difficulty but in facing and standing firm amid challenge and struggle for the sake of God and good.
Practice: God himself, though sinless and perfect, did not evade the cross, but embraced it and transformed it into a means of salvation. Can we too turn our crosses into channels of grace and growth?
