Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 07 September 2025
First Reading: Wisdom 9: 13-18
“For a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind. We can hardly guess at what is on earth, and what is at hand we find with labour; but who has traced out what is in the heavens?” (15-16)
We ask the Lord God for Wisdom in all our dealings and in every moment. The author likens our physical bodies to a tent and describes it as weighing us down! In many ways especially physical and spiritual, we find ourselves weighed down in our life! We must remember then that most often, it is due to our human nature that we face challenges! Let us not be discouraged yet, let us endeavour daily. Each day brings us a fresh opportunity to revive our spirits even as we operate through our physical selves!
Through Christ Jesus our saviour, we can tread this earth with enlightened steps! We can meet life’s challenges with renewed strength in the Lord’s power. Let us peg our tents on Jesus! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90: 3-6, 12-14 and 17
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (14)
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands! (17)
Alleluia, Amen!
Second Reading: Philemon 1: 9-10, 12-17
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. (12)
We are reminded (just like Paul did here) that God sends us his angels and/or aids in our time of need. Provided we turn to him, humble ourselves, and obey His Word! Therefore, let us trust the Lord and renew our spirits just as the disciples did!
We ask the intercession of the saints in our mission. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Alleluia: Psalms 119:135
Alleluia, Alleluia! Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 14: 25-33
“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (27)
We look at “the Cross” that Christ could be referring to here, today! Let us first ask for his wisdom so that we can discern what the cross is that we need to carry! Having died for us once and for all, Christ has redeemed us, so the Cross of our sins was already borne by Christ for us!
The cross we need to carry could be lying within our weaknesses stemming from our fallen human nature! Being the disciples of Christ, we must walk right by God. We are often presented opportunities to slack off, to take the comfortable option, or to gossip, cheat, lie, etc.! Let us ask the Lord, like in Sirach 23:2, to keep a whip on our thoughts and a guard on our lips. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
