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Today, 27th of September, we celebrate
Saint Vincent of Paul
Isaiah 50:5-9
The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear;
and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.
The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?
Psalm 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R./ I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: alleluia.
I love the Lord because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
R./ I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: alleluia.
The cords of death emcompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
and I called upon the name of the Lord,
"Lord, save my life!"
R./ I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: alleluia.
Gracious is the Lord and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
R./ I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: alleluia.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
R./ I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. or: alleluia.
James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
"Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, "
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say,
"You have faith and I have works."
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
Mark 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that I am?"
They said in reply,
"John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets."
And he asked them,
"But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said to him in reply,
"You are the Christ."
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it."
Dear friends, peace and blessings.
We’ve reached the halfway point in the Gospel of Mark, kind of like we’re on a journey with the Apostles, learning right alongside them as they listen to Jesus’ teachings. And what He tells them, He’s also telling us. So let’s see what He has to say to each of us today.
Faith in Tough Times
Isaiah reminds us how important it is to lean on God, especially when things get tough. Just like Jesus found strength in His Father during His suffering, we need to turn to our faith when we feel tired or overwhelmed.
Faith, as James tells us, needs to show up in what we do. Serving others, following Jesus’ example, is a real way to live out our faith. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned; remember, we do what we do out of love, not expecting anything in return.
The Big Question: Who is Jesus to Me?
Jesus, always on the move, invites us to think about our own personal relationship with Him. It’s not enough to just repeat what others say; we need to figure out who Jesus is to us, deep down in our hearts.
To answer this question, we can ask ourselves a few honest questions:
Finding Our Own Answer
The Gospels are full of questions about who Jesus is. But the most important one is the one He asks us directly: “Who am I to you?”
He’s the Messiah, but each of us needs to find our own personal answer. Is Jesus someone we can’t live without? Someone we’d give our life for?
Let’s think about these questions and find our own honest answers. That’s the answer Christ is waiting to hear from us.
Alejandro Carbajo, cmfWe trust in the Lord
who keeps us from lasting death,
who stands by our side
in sorrow and distress,
and keeps our feet from stumbling.
The Lord be always with you. R/ And also with you.
A. Do We Go Jesus' Way?
What are we looking for in life? Good health, happiness in our families, in our job, in our faith, good relationships with ourselves, with people and with God. When Jesus tells us today that we have to follow him in taking up the crosses that come our way, do we accept that as disciples of Jesus today? Do we take that as a part of our faith or do we say, "Lord, everything - but not that!"? Jesus assures us: "Anyone who loses his or her life for my sake will find life, will save life." Come, let us meet the Lord who speaks to us.
Do We Go Jesus' Way?
We are scared of the cross.
Let us ask pardon from the Lord
that we have not always accepted our crosses.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you suffered grievously
and you ask us to take up our cross after you.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you were put to death
and you ask us to lose our life for your sake.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you rose again after three days
and you promise us that we will find life with you.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, forgive us all our sins,
save us from evil and death
and lead us to a full and everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Lord, Open Our Ears and Lips
Let us pray to God that we may learn
to bear our crosses with Jesus
(PAUSE)
Lord God, our hope and trust,
you have made us for happiness.
When we seek it in glorious dreams
of prosperity, success and freedom from pain
help us to face the realities of real life.
Make us accept the uncertain darkness
of suffering and self-effacement
as the price to pay for light and joy.
Teach us the way of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died of his own free will,
that we might live and be happy.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading Introduction: Suffering in Hope
In this third song of the servant of God, the prophet expresses his trust in God. He and God's people suffer, but he is sure God is with him and will do him justice.
Second Reading Introduction: Faith Demands Practice
James knows that a person is saved by faith. Yet he stresses that faith must become visible in the deeds of a Christian.
Gospel Introduction: Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
Peter recognizes Jesus as the promised Savior. But to win life for himself and for us, Jesus must first lose his life. We, his disciples, must go the way of the cross with him.
Let us pray to our living and loving God who has created us for happiness, that we may learn to face the responsibilities and hardships of life, and let us say: R/ Lord, hear the voice of your people.
For the Church, that it may not be ashamed of preaching the crucified Christ and of being self-effacing with him, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the voice of your people.
- For the victims of injustice and poverty, that we may have the courage to stand up for them and to bring them justice and love, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the voice of your people.
- For the stragglers in life, for the little people who "do not count," that they may not be trampled underfoot by the high and the mighty, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the voice of your people.
- For those not adapted to life, for those whose ideas or conduct we do not share, that we may respect them and have a heart and a place for them, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the voice of your people.
- For the sick and the handicapped, that they may draw strength from the awareness of how close they are to the suffering Lord, and that we may visit them and care for them, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear the voice of your people.
Lord God, the crosses of the world are ours, for Jesus is ours. Let them be yours to lighten, for Jesus carried the cross for all, and he is your Son and our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.
Father in heaven,
your Son Jesus gives himself to us
in the signs of nourishing bread
made from broken grains of wheat
and of the sparkling wine of joy
poured from grapes that are crushed.
With this food and drink of life
give us the mentality of your Son,
that we may die to ourselves
for love of you and those entrusted to us.
May this be the sacrifice we offer you
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
We give praise and thanks to the Father for having saved and freed us by the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. We now join Jesus in his sacrifice. May he give us the strength to take up his cross in the sacrifices asked of us in everyday life..
In the words of Jesus, our Savior,
let us pray to the Father in heaven
for the bread that gives us the strength
to follow in his footsteps: R/ Our Father...
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and from our fear of committing ourselves
to you and to those you love.
Give us the insight and the courage
to overcome and surpass
life's reality of suffering
by accepting it and turning it
into a gift of love and fidelity,
on the road that leads to the full coming
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
This is the Lamb of God
who accepted suffering and death
to take away the sin of the world.
Happy are we to be invited
to share in his sacrifice
so as to share also in his risen life. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Lord our God,
we give you thanks
for speaking to us your word of life
and nourishing us with the bread of strength.
Send us out into the world of people
to bear one another's crosses
and to share each other's joys,
that we may not merely admire your Son
for having borne his cross,
but follow him on the road
that leads to life and glory.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Jesus did not run away
from the difficulties and pains
of his mission in life.
May God give you
the same loyalty and strength, and bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go with one another
the road of Jesus our Lord.R/ Thanks be to God.
