Sunday, September 17, 2006
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time


A. Do We Go Jesus' Way?
B. Do We Know Jesus?

Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalm 116;1-2,3-4,5-6,8-9
James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37


Daily Gospel • A Certain Jesus
Preaching the Word  • Sundays Into Silence

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction: Suffering in Hope
      In this third song of the servant of God, the prophet expresses his trust in God. He and God's people suffer, but he is sure God is with him and will do him justice.

First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9

The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear.
I have not rebelled,
nor have I withdrawn.
I offered my back to those who strike me,
my cheeks to those who pulled my beard;
neither did I shield my face
from blows, spittle and disgrace.
I have not despaired,
for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help.
So, like a flint I set my face,
knowing that I will not be disgraced.
He who avenges me is near.
Who then will accuse me?
Let us confront each other.
Who is now my accuser?
Let him approach.
If the Lord Yahweh is my help.
who will condemn me?
All of them will wear out like cloth;
the moth will devour them.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116;1-2,3-4,5-6,8-9

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

I love the Lord because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

The cords of death emcompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
and I called upon the name of the Lord,
"Lord, save my life!"
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Gracious is the Lord and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Second Reading Introduction: Faith Demands Practice
      James knows that a person is saved by faith. Yet he stresses that faith must become visible in the deeds of a Christian.

Second Reading: James 2:14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, "May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied," without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead.

Say to whoever challenges you, "You have faith and I have good deeds; show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act."

Gospel Introduction: Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
      Peter recognizes Jesus as the promised Savior. But to win life for himself and for us, Jesus must first lose his life. We, his disciples, must go the way of the cross with him.

Gospel Reading: Mark 8:27-35

Jesus set out with his disciples for the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" And they told him, "Some say you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah or one of the prophets."

Then Jesus asked them, "But you, who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." And he ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be killed and after three days rise again. Jesus said all this quite openly, so that Peter took him aside and began to protest strongly. But Jesus turning around, and looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter saying, "Get behind me Satan! You are thinking not as God does, but as people do."

Then Jesus called the people and his disciples and said, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. 35 For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; and if you lose your life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will save it.

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