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                                    Vol. 36 No. 49                                                                                                      (Cycle B)

23rd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Sharing the Power of Jesus.


ENTRANCE ANTIPHON


Lord, you are just, and the judgements you make are right. Show mercy when you judge me, your servant.


PENITENTIAL RITE


Miracle is not the foundation of faith but faith is the foundation of miracles, because these miracles reflect the power of God. The one who believes in God experiences this power and also shares this power with others. Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the power of Jesus available for those who are seeking it and are ready to share it with others.
Jesus came to this world and lived in our midst in order to serve and to save. He demonstrated his power in his willingness to serve others in gentleness and compassion. Are we ready to share this power of Christ by being disposed to serve others in humility and truth?


I confess...


Glory to God...


OPENING PRAYER


Let us pray: God our Father, you redeem us and make us your children in Christ. Look upon us, give us true freedom and bring us to the inheritance you promised. Grant this…


FIRST READING


(In this reading we hear about Isaiah’s prophecy about the effect of God’s power in the life of the Israelites who are broken, wounded, deafened, and blinded by their own selfish lifestyle.)


A reading from the Book of Isaiah (35:4-7)


Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.
This is the Word of the Lord


PSALM (145)


Response: My soul, give praise to the Lord.


It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free. R./


It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down, the Lord who loves the just, the Lord, who protects the stranger. R./


The Lord upholds the widow and the orphan, but thwarts the path of the wicked. The Lord will reign for ever, Zion’s God, from age to age. Alleluia! R./


SECOND READING


(St James invites us to make no distinction between the poor and the rich while we share the power of God which is given to us by God himself. Earthly wealth or positions are no criterion for distinction in the Christian community. All are equal before God.


A reading from the Letter of St James (2:1-5)


My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?
This is the Word of the Lord


ACCLAMATION (Lk 21:36)


Alleluia! Alleluia! Watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to stand before the Son of man. Alleluia!


GOSPEL


(Jesus heals the deaf and dumb person with a personal touch. The people who witnessed this power went around proclaiming it. The utter amazement of the crowd is emphasized by their comment: “He has done all things well.”)


A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark (7:31-37)


Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord


I believe in God,/the Father almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth./ I believe in Jesus Christ,/his only Son, our Lord./ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary./He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was crucified, died, and was buried./He descended to the dead./On the third day he rose again./He ascended into heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of the Father./He will come again to judge the living and the dead./I believe in the Holy Spirit,/the holy catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and the life everlasting./ Amen.


PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL


Cel: Dear brothers and sisters, God the Father empowered his only son Jesus Christ who reflected this power through his works and words. Let us ask him to fill us with his power so that we may share in his life. Let us pray with confidence, saying:


Response: Lord, help us to share your power of love with others.


1. That our Holy Father, Bishops, Priests, Religious and Laity do good works through Jesus and become living witnesses of Jesus’ power in today’s world, let us pray to the Lord. R./


2. Those who are in power may use it not for their own selfish interests but for the well-being of all, especially the needy, the poor and the exploited, let us pray to the Lord. R./


3. That all people may acknowledge the ultimate authority and power of God in Jesus, the King of kings, let us pray to the Lord. R./


4. We pray for judges and those involved in administering justice to the people. May they follow Christ’s law of love, truth and justice in all their decisions, let us pray to the Lord. R./


(Pray for local and personal needs)


 Cel: Almighty and ever living God, hear the prayers of your people. May we all experience your power at work in our lives and especially in the lives of those who are deprived of hearing, sight, speech and health. Grant this through Christ our Lord.


PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS


God of peace and love, may our offering bring you true worship and make us one with you. Grant this…


PREFACE (P 29)


Father all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. When your children sinned and wandered far from your friendship, you reunited them with yourself through the blood of your Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.
You gather them into your Church, to be one as you, Father, are one with your Son and the Holy Spirit. You call them to be your people, to praise your wisdom in all your works. You make them the body of Christ and the dwelling-place of your Holy Spirit. In your joy we sing to your glory with all the choirs of angels:


All: Holy, holy, holy...


COMMUNION ANTIPHON


Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God. My soul is thirsting for the living God.


PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION


Lord, your word and your sacrament give us food and life. May this gift of your Son lead us to share his life for ever. We ask this…

 

LITURGY AND LIFE

 

Today’s readings draw our attention to the power of God reflected in his works and promises. Jesus’ power shines forth in his teachings and in his miracles. Let us analyze the miracles of Jesus which can be categorized as:
a) Miracles Connected With Nature: Jesus calms the storm, he walks on the water, he curses the fig tree, and he turns water into wine. All these miracles show us the authority that Jesus has over the laws of nature.
b) Miracles Connected With Human Sickness: Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law from fever, he cleanses the lepers, he heals the boy suffering from epilepsy, he heals the woman with the blood flow for twelve years and he cures the servant of the centurion from high fever. Jesus shares his power as the doctor of the doctors here.
c) Miracles Connected With Human Imperfections: Jesus gives sight to the blind, he makes the dumb speak, he opens the ears of the deaf and he heals the paralytic. He cures the man with the withered hand and straightens the woman who was bent for eighteen years. Jesus brings perfection to the ones affected by human imperfection.
d) Miracles Connected With Evil Power: Jesus casts out demon from the demoniac of Gerasene. He heals the daughter of the Canaanite woman who was possessed by a demon, etc. All these miracles show that Jesus’ power exceeds that of the evil one.
e) Miracles Connected With Death: Jesus raises Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter and the son of the widow of Nain from dead. These miracles show that Jesus is the Lord of life and death. They point to his own resurrection.
The Gospels are not written just to mention the teachings and the works of Jesus. They are written that one may believe in him and share his power. The apostles who had witnessed these miracles, especially, Peter, James and John performed similar miracles in the early Church. Peter healed the lame man sitting at the beautiful gate. He raised the widow of Joppa from the dead, etc. This shows that anyone who believes in Jesus will be able to share his power.
The touch of our divine Master’s hand continues to heal and transform our lives today. The Sacraments are the extensions of Christ’s hands reaching out to touch and heal us. Scripture is the extension of his words of encouragement to us. Christ not only touches us with his hands but also uses our hands to touch others: to sustain the fatherless and the widows, protect the stranger and raise up those that are bowed down. Under Jesus’ transforming power we become his instruments to accomplish the marvellous works described in today’s Psalm.
We are called to share Jesus’ power in our day-to-day life. One should not be too much afraid of death, evil power, opposition, rejection and sickness, as Jesus has overcome all these. One should recognize the power of Jesus at work in the health centres, prayer groups, social work office, and the activities of the Church and her institutions and co-operate with them to manifest the glory of Jesus. For St Teresa of Avila says, “I alone cannot do anything, Jesus alone will not do anything, Jesus and I do everything.”
—Fr Robert D’Souza


September 2009

READINGS OF THE WEEK

Psalter Week 3


7 Mon (G) Col 1:24-2:3; Ps 61:6-7,8c-9; Lk 6:6-11
8 Tue (W) THE NATIVITY OF THE B.V. MARY (Fst) Mic 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 12:6ab,6cd; Mt 1:1-16,18-23 (or 1:18-23)
9 Wed (W) St Peter Claver, Col 3:1-11; Ps 144:2-3,10-11,12-13ab; Lk 6:20-26
10 Thu (G) Col 3:12-17; Ps 150:1-2,3-4,5-6; Lk 6:27-38
11 Fri (G) 1 Tim 1:1-2,12-14; Ps 15:1-2&5,7-8,11; Lk 6:39-42
12 Sat (G) 1 Tim 1:15-17; Ps 112:1-2,3-4,5-7; Lk 6:43-49


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