Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 08 September 2024
First Reading: Isaiah 35: 4-7a
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” (4)
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. (5)
Prophet Isaiah proclaims protection for us in the Lord GOD and prophesies Jesus’ ministry. We must remain hopeful and confident of the LORD’s return. This passage is titled “The Return of the Redeemed to Zion.” We know we are called because Christ Jesus bought us into his kingdom.
Let us therefore walk worthily with unblinded eyes and unblocked ears. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 146: 7-10
The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. (8)
Alleluia, Amen,
Second Reading: James 2: 1-5
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? (5)
Christ Jesus was born poor, he and his parents lived poor. Today St. James is admonishing those who are influenced by the outward appearance of people or things! A close witness along with Peter and John, to Christ’s greatest events; St. James warns us about the deceptiveness of this world and its riches! We ought to take him very seriously. We pray to St. James in a special way today that we may work with honesty and impartiality throughout our day.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen!
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 23
Alleluia! Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37
He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. (33-35)
We may feel that our ears are blocked from hearing the Lord speak. Even though we may not lie, we may sometimes refrain from speaking the truth; which could amount to cowardice! But to receive the Lord’s Word and Speak the Truth, we need to go with the Lord, “aside in private away from the crowd”. We need to find it in us and in our day to step aside, and turn to the Lord; so that we too can hear him say: “Ephphatha!” Amen!
On this day of the Nativity of Our Blessed Mother Mary, we Thank her for her intercession for us. We ask her to continue to keep us under the mantle of her protection. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen!
