Liturgical Readings for : Monday, 23rd September, 2024
Monday of the Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Memorial of St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), priest)
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Proverbs 3:27-34
The wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord.
My son,
Do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it, if it is in your power to perform it.
Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go away! Come another time!
I will give it you tomorrow’, if you can, do it now.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour as he lives unsuspecting next door.
Do not pick a groundless quarrel with a man who has done you no harm.
Do not emulate the man of violence, never model your conduct on his;
for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord, who confides only in honest men.
The Lord’s curse lies on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the virtuous.
He mocks those who mock, but accords his favour to the humble.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 14
Response The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
1. Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue. Response
2. He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour,
who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord. Response
3. He who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever. Response
Gospel Acclamation Jm 1: 18
Alleluia, Alleluia!
By his own choice the Father made us his children by the message of the truth,
so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he created.
Alleluia !
Or Mt 5: 16
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works,
they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 8:16-18 Glory to you, O Lord
A lamp is put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed.
No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light
when they come in.
For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret,
but it will be known and brought to light.
So take care how you hear; for anyone who has will be given more;
from anyone who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Monday, Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 8:16-18
The sayings of Jesus in today’s gospel reading begin, ‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed’. What did it mean to ‘light a lamp’ in the time of Jesus? The reference is to a small lamp, usually made of clay, filled with oil and with a wick. It could be set on a stand or hung from it. It is obvious that no one would hide a burning lamp by putting a bowl over it or putting it under a bed. It is lit to give light to those who are in the house or to guests who may come into the house. Jesus is referring to the light of the gospel which is not to be hidden but should be allowed to stream forth into the darkness in the world. We have been given the light of the gospel. Our calling is to allow that light to shine through our lives.
On one occasion, Jesus addressed his disciples as the light of the world and called on them to let their light shine by their good deeds, deeds inspired by the message of the gospel. The gospel is not a secret message intended to be kept hidden or revealed to a select few. It is the Lord’s light which is to shine for all to see. We each have a role to play in allowing the light of the Lord’s gospel to shine in our world. Firstly, however, we need to allow ourselves to be illumined by the light of the Lord’s word by listening carefully to it. Only then can we be channels of that light to others, thereby sharing in the Lord’s mission of being a light to the world.
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd
