Daily Liturgy
Wednesday September 15
TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOUSE OF THE LIVING GOD
Introduction
We hear today the core of St Paul’s first letter to Timothy. The Church is the community of the living God that makes Christ visible to the world. At a time when Christians had no temples or churches, he speaks of the living Church, the body of the faithful, which must bear witness to the truth. Then he quotes a hymn in honor of Christ, who is at the core of our faith, for the truth is Christ present in the community. Is Christ visible in the Church? Is he credible in us as a community?
Luke compares those who reject Christ and God’s prophets to spoiled children. Jews, and later the pagans for whom Luke writes, see John the Baptist and Jesus and the things they say and do, but they do not recognize these signs.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you call your Church to be
an open house,
a community of welcome
in which people can encounter your Son.
Let your Son continue in us
his deadly struggle against all evil
and turn death and suffering
into springs of life and joy.
May thus the world believe
that he is alive among us
and that he is the Lord who lives for ever.
Reading 1: 1 Tm 3:14-16
Beloved:
I am writing you,
although I hope to visit you soon.
But if I should be delayed,
you should know how to behave in the household of God,
which is the Church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of truth.
Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,
Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
(2) How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Alleluia: Jn 6:63c, 68c
Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Lk 2:33-35
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Intercessions
– For us the People of God, that we may be more aware that we, all and each of us, are the living Church of Christ, we pray:
– For our Christian communities, aware that we are not perfect, that we may support one another in mutual understanding and in one love of Christ, we pray:
– For ourselves, that we may be in his world the sign of God’s constant care, holiness and goodness, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
show what you can do
with frail and limited people.
Through the body and blood of your Son,
unite us and bring us to life
as a community of faith and love.
Make us hunger and thirst
for your kingdom of justice and peace,
that we may reveal to the world
the face of your own Son,
Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you have invited us
to come to your house
and to feel at home.
Through the eucharistic body of your Son,
build yourself a house among us
made not of wood or concrete
but of living, human stones,
in which everyone is welcome
and in whom dwells Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever. Amen.
Blessing
May we be the community of the living God that makes Christ visible to the world? How far are we still from that ideal? May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Commentary
The children sitting in the marketplace find their playmates unresponsive to any suggestion. The crowds listening to Jesus are the same. They find reasons at every turn for remaining uncommitted. John the Baptist fasted from food and wine and was accused of being possessed by a demon. Jesus came eating and drinking and was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard. Where there is an unwillingness to act, any excuse will do.
There are moments in life when resolute action is called for, and we may offer very weak reasons for not acting. There are times when we know that our children are following a very dangerous path. But rather than suffer their rejection, we do nothing. We lose sight of the very serious pledge we have made before God to act in keeping with our responsibility.
Our commitment to Christ calls us to action, not passivity. The quotation from Timothy today (1 Tim 3:16) summarizes Jesus’ life and ministry, especially his glorification; in a very expressive way. He came among us in the flesh, a true human being. In his resurrection he is vindicated in his life and teaching. Now glorified, he is seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, and beloved in as the universal savior. Christ was always the total “Yes” to God.
His decisiveness is what we are called to live.
Points to Ponder
Evading commitment
Christ’s unqualified “Yes” to God
The dangers of vacillation