Daily Liturgy
Sunday September 26
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- No Monopoly on the Spirit
- Many Gifts, One Spirit
Greeting (See 1 Cor 12:4-7)
There is a variety of gifts,
but they come from the same Spirit,
all sorts of service, but to the same Lord,
many forms of work, but all of them, in all people,
the work of the same God.
In each one the Spirit manifests himself
for the good of all.
May the Lord Jesus give you this Spirit
and always be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
- No Monopoly on the Spirit
How easily we become suspicious of those who are different from us, particularly people of other religions. He or she is a Moslem or a Jew or a Protestant – or a foreigner. For some, perhaps many, this is enough to discredit that person or the good he or she does. Here comes Jesus, whose heart beats for all people, and he tells us to be open-minded and to recognize all the good there is in people and their deeds, whoever they are. The same Spirit is working in us who works in all who do good. Let the Lord open our minds today.
- Many Gifts, One Spirit
A strong curse of humanity is its clannishness: my family or clan first, and the others do not count; my country above all, my tribe or race and not the rest, my social clique and I look down on the rest; even my religion, for the others are heretics or pagans. Hence wars, rivalries, condemnations. Where is the universality of the Church? Do we accept the Spirit working everywhere? That is what Jesus wants us to do. Let us ask him in this Eucharist to open our minds and hearts to all and to recognize his Spirit doing good wherever people seek what is right and just, whether they know it or not.
Penitential Act
- No Monopoly on the Spirit
Let us ask the Lord to forgive us
our jealousies, our prejudices, our small-mindedness.
(pause)
Lord Jesus,
your Spirit blows where he wants;
he inspires and moves many:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ,
your Spirit generously pours out his gifts
on whoever is open to his breath of life:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,
your Spirit gives wisdom and insight
where and when we least expect it:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us our sins
of self-sufficiency and intolerance.
Open us to the force of your Spirit
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
- 2. Many Gifts, One Spirit
Let us ask the Lord to forgive us
that we have been narrow-minded.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, you want us to be free.
Open the boundaries of our minds and hearts:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, open our eyes
to the humble and to the poor,
to people on whom we have looked down:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, make us see with you
all the good there is in people,
even if they are different from us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us all, Lord,
and forgive us our sins.
Make us one in you
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that the Spirit of God
may be alive in us and in all people
(pause)
God our Father,
pour out on us and on all people
the life-giving Spirit of your Son.
Let him open our minds,
that we may see your beauty and truth
in an ever-new light.
Let him open our hearts
that we may receive from him every day
a fresh provision of courage.
Let him pour out in all people
a love that is respectful and tolerant.
All this we dare to ask you
in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading: No Monopoly on God’s Gifts!
The Spirit of God inspired not only Moses but also others. God’s gifts are for the good of all, not to be jealously guarded by a few.
Reading 1: NM 11:25-29
The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.
Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, “
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’aide, said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them.”
But Moses answered him,
“Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Responsorial Psalm: PS 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
(9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Though your servant is careful of them,
very diligent in keeping them,
Yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
let it not rule over me.
Then shall I be blameless and innocent
of serious sin.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Second Reading: Riches are a Responsibility
In no uncertain terms, James warns the rich in goods and talents that on the day of judgment their possessions will testify against them if they have not been used well for others.
Reading 2: JAS 5:1-6
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;
you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
You have condemned;
you have murdered the righteous one;
he offers you no resistance.
Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Appreciate the Good Others Do
Jesus teaches his disciples to appreciate the good done by others, whoever they are, and never to give scandal.
Gospel: MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
At that time, John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'”
Intercessions
Let us pray to the Father of all for all people far and near, known and unknown, and let us say:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
– For the Church we love, that it may bring forgiveness and love to all, welcome all, care for all, inspire all with the gentle power of the Holy Spirit, let us pray:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
– For political leaders, bankers and economists, that they may be concerned about rich and poor alike, and let all people and nations have a just share in the riches of this earth, let us pray:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
– For people who are persecuted for their faith, for prophets inspired by the Spirit who remind us in season and out of season of what is really important in the eyes of God, let us pray:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
– For lawmakers, that the Spirit may prompt them to make good laws that are fair to all; for those who promote justice and freedom that people may respond to their efforts, let us pray:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
– For outcasts and victims of discrimination, that our communities may accept them fully and make our love so spontaneous and warm that they feel accepted and at home among us, let us pray:
R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
Father, make our love as generous and wide as the love you have shown us in Jesus. Let your Spirit open us to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Our God and Father,
you invite us to eat with your Son
his meal of communion and peace.
Pour out on us gathered here
the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ,
that we may all be one
and cooperate with all people of good will
to stand up with courage
for freedom and justice everywhere.
May your Spirit work thus in all
to offer you glory and praise for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Gathered with our Lord Jesus Christ, let us give thanks to the Father for uniting us by his Holy Spirit as one Church and one voice of praise to God.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
With all the variety of our personalities and tasks,
let us be one in the Holy Spirit
to pray to our Father the prayer of Jesus: R/ Our Father…
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free
from our self-opinionated ways,
our clannishness and jealousies.
Make us recognize and appreciate
whatever good there is in people
as we wait together in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom…
Invitation to Communion
This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are we to be invited
to eat the Lord’s body
and to receive his Holy Spirit
of strength and unity. R/ Lord, I am not worthy…
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
you send us out into the world
by the strength of the Holy Spirit
given us here in this Eucharist
by you and by your Son.
Let him blow not only in us
but in whomever he wills
and in the direction you want us to go,
toward your future and your kingdom
of integrity, truth and love.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
It was already the wish of Moses
that the whole people of God
could be a prophetic people
inspired by God’s Spirit.
Christ made us a people
filled with his Holy Spirit.
May this Spirit guide us
to renew this world
and may we recognize him at work
in all the good done by people.
May almighty God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
May Christ fill you with his Spirit
to keep you united in love. R/ Thanks be to God.
Commentary
Have you heard of the parish that held a funeral service for itself? The people were forever complaining to the parish priest that the parish was very dead. “Very well,” said he one Sunday, “since everyone agrees that the parish is dead, we should hold a funeral for it and lay it to rest with Christian dignity!” On the following Sunday, there in the center of the sanctuary was a coffin, with six candles lighting beside it. There was also a wreath, inscribed with the words, “From your devoted parishioners.” There was a lot of puzzlement in the pews. After the homily, the priest said, “According to the custom of the parish, I now invite you all to come up and pay your final respects to the deceased.” One by one the people came up and peered into the coffin, and then returned to their places, showing signs of shock at the death of their parish. Indeed. In the coffin was a mirror, and each parishioner (beginning with the parish priest) was able to recognize his or her own face as the face of the dead parish!