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
