Lord
God, our Father,
Jesus your Son showed special concern
for the weak and the humble.
Help us too never to become overbearing
or condescending towards the little people.
Do not allow us to confuse them
with self-conscious, learned Words.
And give us a faith that is informed,
yet simple and trusting.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading Introduction
James
resorts to the vehement invective of the prophets against
the rich who exploit the poor, though there must have been
few really rich in the early Christian communities.
First
Reading: Jas 5:1– 6
Come
now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending
miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes
have
become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded,
and
that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will
devour
your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure
for the last
days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who
harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries
of the
harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have
lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened
your
hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned;
you have
murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.
R./
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the Kingdom of heaven
is theirs!
This
is the way of those whose trust is folly,
the end of those contented with their lot:
Like sheep they are herded into the nether world;
death is their shepherd and the upright rule over them.
R./ Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the Kingdom of heaven
is theirs!
Quickly
their form is consumed;
the nether world is their palace.
But God will redeem me
from the power of the nether world by receiving me. R./ Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the Kingdom of heaven
is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down. R./ Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the Kingdom of heaven
is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light. R./ Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the Kingdom of heaven
is theirs!
Gospel
Reading Introduction
In
a series of not too well connected Words of the Lord to
his disciples, we notice for example, how Jesus shows
concern for the "little ones," that is, ordinary
Christians not too well versed in doctrinal matters, who
are at times confused by the more learned. With James
and the Lord we too should be concerned about the little
people, the humble, ordinary Christians.
Gospel
Reading: Mk 9:41– 50
Jesus
said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of
water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I
say to
you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe
in me
to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put
around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If
your hand
causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you
to enter into life
maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into
the
unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin,
cut if
off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two
feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes
you to
sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the
Kingdom of
God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into
Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire
is not
quenched.
“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but
if salt
becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep
salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one
another.”
Commentary
Sodium
chloride (salt) is a chemical compound that will retain
its flavor for an indefinite time. Left on its own, salt
remains salty for thousands of years.
But when salt gets mixed with sand or other impurities
it is no longer useful to us. It has lost is flavor by
dilution.
Guarding oneself against harmful outside influences is
a Christian duty. A dedicated follower of Jesus can have
a powerful impact upon this troubled world of ours, but
only if that disciple is holy. Getting mixed up in worldly
concerns and sinful activities is a sure way of making
the salt go flat.
General
Intercessions
- For
the Church, that we may not only love the poor and care
for them but also speak out with courage when they are trampled
upon, we pray:
- For those who are deaf and blind to other people and their
needs, that their eyes, ears and hearts may be opened to
the treasures of love and sharing, we pray:
- For all of us, that our empty hearts may become spacious
and generous, like open doors to all people and all needs,
we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
God
our Father,
your Son Jesus was radical in his love
and in the demands he made on his disciples,
yet he was mild and understanding
toward the weak and the poor.
With this bread and wine
accept our purpose to follow your Son
in his radical, demanding ways.
But be also compassionate and forgiving
when we fall short of our best intentions.
And help us to have patience
with others, and with ourselves
on account of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
Patient
and merciful God,
we have heard your Son speak to us
Words of warning and a call to conversion.
May we stand the tests of the Christian life,
that we may never stand condemned.
Let this Eucharist warm our hearts
and keep us at peace with one another
and with you, our compassionate and patient God.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Never
look down on others. Protect them. Jesus repeats this in
many ways, regarding outcasts and sinners, regarding children,
regarding the weak and simple people. We are Christians
together, and God loves us all. May God bless you, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Claretian Publications MACAU