26th Sunday Ordinary Time

Sunday September 29, 2024

 

26th.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

1. No Monopoly on the Spirit
How easily we mistrust those who are different from us, of other races, peoples, political ideas or religions.... We label them and judge them without taking into account who they are, their stories, the good they do... But here comes Jesus, whose heart beats for all, and tells us that we have to be open-minded and unprejudiced, and recognize all the good in others and in their works, whoever they are. It is the same Spirit who works in us and in all those who do good. May the Lord open our minds and hearts today.

 

2. 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

1. 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: Numbers 11:25-29: 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.

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: James 5:1-6: 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.

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: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48: Appreciate the Good Others Do

Jesus teaches his disciples to appreciate the good done by others, whoever they are, and never to give scandal.

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

Let you not end up in the garbage bin

The disciples of Jesus are confronted by a huge confusion: How can someone who does not follow us, who does not belong to our group, perform the same wonders or even greater ones that were copyrighted to us? If someone successfully occupies the field where we are called to carry out our mission, is there cause for rejoicing or concern? Who is authorized to use the name of Jesus? To whom has he bestowed his Spirit, the power that heals every disease? John and his companions are not happy because the other person does not belong to their group.

How do we understand who is with us and who is against us? At certain moments, we Christians feel that we are the only beloved children of God and people who do not belong to our group and our religion are outsiders who cannot be in the love and mercy of God.

But on our journey, as we look up and look around, we realise that there are many generous, sincere, well-disposed companions walking alongside us. We did not see them because we have been looking through the coloured glass of our presumptions of being the only true Church and the only true disciples. Envy and jealousy prevented us from recognizing the good done by those who were different from us.

In our communities, many serve our brothers and sisters, carrying out the tasks with diligence and generosity; however, jealousy and envy often ruin our efforts. And all the works we do, ceases to be a service but turns out to be means of affirming ourselves, our social status and our ego.

St. Mark reminds his community to make every effort to make their lives beneficial to the community. God has blessed us with eyes, hands and legs to observe and reach out to the needs of our brothers and sisters to do them good. Whoever wastes their chance to do good in this world loses, forever, the unique opportunity that God has offered him or her; ruins himself or herself like garbage. The word “Gehenna” was the place where all the garbage of the city was dumped.

The Gospel speaks of chopping off one’s hand or leg or even removing one’s eye – if we use them to do wrongs and fail to use them to do good. Indeed, it shocks the listeners, but we should remember that it is not an announcement of eternal damnation for the wrong-doers. Rather, it is an urgent call to cut off our wrong behaviours, attitudes, life-styles and ideologies, so that we wouldn’t let our lives be wasted in the garbage bin.

 

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29 September 2024

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Let not your lives be wasted

The disciples are confronted with a great deal of confusion: How is it possible for someone outside of our circle, who is not part of our community, to perform the same miracles or even greater ones that were exclusively associated with us? Should we be happy or worried if someone else is successful in our area of work? Who has the authority to invoke the name of Jesus? John and his companions are displeased because the other individual is not part of their group.

How can we discern who is on our side and who is not? Sometimes, as Christians, we perceive ourselves as the exclusive beloved offspring of God, while those outside our circle and faith are seen as outsiders who cannot experience God's love and compassion.

During an interfaith gathering in Singapore on September 12, Pope Francis made a thought-provoking statement: “All religions are a path to God. They are like different languages to arrive at God, but God is God for all. Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.” However, This profound insight was met with resistance by some who feared it might challenge the Catholic doctrine of Christ as the sole saviour and undermine the church's missionary efforts.

But on our journey, as we look up and look around, we realise that many generous, sincere, well-disposed companions are walking alongside us. We did not see them because we have been looking through the coloured glass of our presumptions of being the only true Church and the only true disciples. Envy and jealousy prevented us from recognising the good done by those who were different from us.

Choosing not to do good in this world means missing out on a God-given special opportunity to make a positive impact on those around us. In the Gospel, the term 'Gehenna' refers to a place where all the city's trash was dumped.

The Gospel employs intense language, like cutting off a hand or foot or even removing an eye, if it leads us into wrongdoing or prevents us from doing good. Although these words may shock the listeners, they are not a declaration of eternal punishment for those who sin. Instead, they serve as a pressing reminder to eliminate harmful behaviours, attitudes, lifestyles, and beliefs so that we don’t allow our lives to be thrown away into the Gehenna – the garbage bin.

 

 Let not your lives be wasted - Youtube