Day Four: Sunday, September 13, 2015

Theme: Mary emptied herself for love of her Son

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary: 131

Reading 1: Isaiah 50:5-9A

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 shieldfrom 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?

Reading 2: James 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 wearand 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 the necessities of the body,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.

Alleluia: Galatians 6:14 R. 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. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set outfor 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 anyone about him.

He began to teach themthat the Son of Man must suffer greatlyand 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 he 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 sakeand that of the gospel will save it.”

La Salette Scripture Reflection: Thursday Of The Twenty-Third Week Of The Year    

Mark 8:27-35: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me.”We can learn much from nature. In the butterfly’s transformation from a caterpillar, it must struggle to emerge from its chrysalis. However in so doing, it gains the strength to eventually be able to fly off into the bright sky. So too for us as human beings: we also benefit greatly not only from our experiences of joy and celebration, but also from the challenges and crosses which life gives us.

Jesus words, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me,” seem perhaps more challenging that we would wish. However Jesus continues, saying: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for my sakeand that of the gospel will save it.” Our crosses will strengthen us and help us to rise above these difficulties and live on in hope.

At La Salette, Mary spoke of her concerns about faith and family life; she wanted “her people” to nurture their own faith and protect their family from coming trials, such as lack of food or threatening illnesses. Her realistic and down-to-earth approach to living daily life with faith resonated especially with Maximin’s father who feared he would be unable to feed his family that winter. Once he turned back to God and returned to weekly Sunday Mass, he was able to place his trust in God who would help him deal with the challenges he had to face.

Some Reflection Questions: How have I helped someone with their burdens and concerns? Who has been a good example to me or helped me deal with my own challenges? Have I thanked God for them?