ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

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

PENITENTIAL RITE

We measure people’s commitment to a cause by the sacrifices they are prepared to make for it. We cannot be genuine disciples of Christ without making sacrifices. Let us pose a few questions to ourselves: What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it cost me? How does it affect my life? For our lack of commitment, our lukewarmness and selfishness, let us be sorry and ask forgiveness from God. (Pause)

I confess...

Glory to God...

OPENING PRAYER

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

(Without the gift of wisdom we would be utterly unable to fathom the mysteries of the universe, the meaning of history, and the mind of God.)

A reading from the Book of Wisdom   (9:13-18)

“What man can learn the counsel of God? Or who can discern what the Lord wills? For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail, for a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthly 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? Who has learned thy counsel, unless thou hast given wisdom and sent thy Holy Spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and men were taught what pleases thee, and were saved by wisdom.”
This is the Word of the Lord

PSALM   (89)

Response: O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

You turn men back into dust and say: “Go back, sons of men.” To your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone, no more than a watch in the night. R./

You sweep men away like a dream, like grass which springs up in the morning. In the morning it springs up and flowers, by evening it withers and fades. R./

Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart. Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants. R./ 

In the morning, fill us with your love: we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: R./

SECOND READING

(St Paul urges Philemon to take Onesimus his former slave back as a beloved brother.)

A reading from the Letter of St Paul to Philemon   (9b-10,12-17)

I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus – I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprison-ment. I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will. Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
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 speaks of the cost of discipleship. Being a disciple will cost one self-renunciation and daily martyrdom.)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke   (14:25-33)

Great multitudes accompanied Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
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 in Christ, as people called to be true disciples of Christ, let us now pray that we become more aware of this divine call and be committed to it. With deep faith let us pray to our heavenly Father for our various needs, saying:

Response: Lord, graciously hear our prayer.

1. For all Church leaders: that they may preach the Gospel by word and example. May your Spirit help them to be true disciples and authentic pastors. R./

2. For all Christians: grant them courage when things go wrong; strengthen them with faith in you, with hope in your promises and with love for your Will. R./

3. For leaders of all nations: that they may promote justice and unity in the world; that they may embrace non-violent means of resolving conflicts. R./

4. For all the baptized: that they may always live as faithful disciples of Jesus, and may imitate the compassion and forgiveness of Christ. R

./
5. For all gathered in this assembly: that we may keep our eyes fixed on Christ, follow him with unwavering commitment, thus paying the price of discipleship. R./

(Pray for local and personal needs)

Cel: Heavenly Father, grant that we who are called to be disciples of your Son Jesus, may not turn back, but may willingly take up the daily cross and live a life worthy of our call. We ask this...

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   (36)

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 the Holy Spirit.

In our 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

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He knew that suffering, rejection and death awaited him at the end of that journey. But it seemed that some Galileans regarded it as a victory march of the Messiah. In no uncertain terms Jesus disillusioned them.

Knowing that his disciples would have to face a similar challenge, Jesus spoke about the cost of discipleship. He did not literally mean hating one’s father and mother. The word ‘hate’ is a Semitic expression. ‘Love less’ would be nearer to what Jesus had in mind. He was telling his disciples that they must be ready if needs be to sacrifice the dearest things in life. In certain circumstances they might have to choose between him and their own dearest ones.

By means of two short parables Jesus points out that discipleship is a serious calling. It could mean persecution and even death. In this, as in any other sphere of life, one should not walk into it blindly. One must calculate the cost before setting out, and then see if one is ready to face it.

Jesus did not hide the reality of self-sacrifice from his disciples. He pointed out the difficulties, the hardships, and the sacrifices that would be required of those who would follow him. He told them in no uncertain terms that it would not be easy.

It is possible to be a follower of Christ without being a disciple. One might be a talker rather than a doer. It is one of the supreme handicaps of the Catholic Church that in it there are many people who follow Christ at a safe distance, but very few real disciples, that is, people who actually do what he said. When it comes to understanding their Catholic faith, many modern Christians have never advanced beyond the level of the catechism they learned as children. Religion for many is, primarily a matter of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’, ‘rewards and punishments’. Real conversion involves more than knowledge of truths and teachings. It involves total dedication to a person, to Jesus Christ. In a word, it involves total surrender to God.

Let’s face the truth. It is not easy to be a disciple of Christ. Discipleship has some practical demands that one cannot escape under pain of betraying the Gospel. Yet there are many comfortable church-goers who give little heed to the misery of the needy and the groaning of the poor, even in their neighbourhood. Still today the Christian is called to renounce many things that are taken for granted by others.

The goal Jesus sets before us is immensely worthwhile—the goal of an authentic way of life here and eternal life hereafter. There is no higher goal than that. This does not mean it is easy. No one can be a disciple of Christ without carrying the cross.

We can draw encouragement from the examples of the Apostles. The Gospels show that they struggled at every point to follow Jesus. Yet he did not write them off. And it is clear that they learned from their failures. It was only after Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and Pentecost that they became his true disciples and witnesses. By looking at them we discover our own inadequacies. The Gospel offers hope to Christians who fail. Repentance and a second chance are always possible. Jesus is generous with his grace and mercy to those who strive to answer his call.

—Fr Flor McCarthy, sdb

 
September 2010     READINGS OF THE WEEK     Psalter Week 3

6 Mon (G)  1 Cor 5:1-8; Ps 5:5-6,7,12; Lk 6:6-11

7 Tue (G)   1 Cor 6:1-11; Ps 149:1-2,3-4,5-6a&9b; Lk 6:12-19

8 Wed (W) THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Fst 

                     (Day of girl child)
                     Mic 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 12:6ab,6cd;

                     Mt 1:1-16,18-23   ( or 1:18-23)

9 Thu (G)  1 Cor 8:1b-7,11-13; Ps 138:1-3,13-14ab, 23-24; Lk 6:27-38

10 Fri (G) 1 Cor 9:16-19,22b-27; Ps 83:3,4,5-6,12; Lk 6:39-42

11 Sat (G)  1 Cor 10:14-22; Ps 115:12-13,17-18; Lk 6:43-49