Mass Readings for : Tuesday, 24th September, 2024

Liturgical Readings for : Tuesday, 24th September, 2024

Tuesday of the Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Proverbs 21:1-6. 10-13
Various proverbs of Solomon, Son of David

Like flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord, who turns it where he pleases.
A man’s conduct may strike him as upright, the Lord, however, weighs the heart.
To act virtuously and with justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.

Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.
The hardworking man is thoughtful, and all is gain;
too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.
To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue,
such the idle fantasy of those who look for death.

The wicked man’s soul is intent on evil, he looks on his neighbour with dislike.
When a mocker is punished, the ignorant man grows wiser,
when a wise man is instructed he acquires more knowledge.
The Just One watches the house of the wicked: he hurls the wicked to destruction.
He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and not be heard.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118
Response Guide me, Lord, in the path of your commands.

1. They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God’s law!
Make me grasp the way of your precepts and I will muse on your wonders. Response

2. I have chosen the way of truth with your decrees before me.
Train me to observe your law, to keep it with my heart. Response

3. Guide me in the path of your commands; for there is my delight.
I shall always keep your law for ever and ever. Response

Gospel Acclamation Ps 129: 5
Alleluia, Alleluia!
My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
Alleluia !

or Lk 11: 28
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Happy are those who hear the word of God, and keep it!
Alleluia !

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 8:19-21
My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.

His mother and his brothers came looking for him,
but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told,
‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you‘
But he said in answer,
‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God
and put it into practice’.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Gospel Reflection Tuesday Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 8:19-21

It is often the way in the gospels that people cannot reach Jesus because of the crowd around him. Zacchaeus had to climb a tree to see Jesus because of the crowd. The blind man tried to make contact with Jesus by shouting towards him but the crowd around Jesus told him to be quiet. Parents wanted to bring children to Jesus for him to bless them, but the crowd of disciples around Jesus tried to prevent them from doing so. In all of those cases, Jesus reached over the crowd to the person or group who wanted to make contact with him. He called Zacchaeus down from his tree and told him that he wanted to go to his home; he told the crowd to bring the blind man to him; he rebuked his disciples for trying to block parents from bringing their children to him and then proceeded to take the children in his arms and bless them.

In today’s gospel reading, it is the mother and brothers of Jesus, his own flesh and blood, who cannot get to Jesus because of the crowd gathered around him. However, on this occasion, Jesus does not reach over the crowd to his family to make contact with them. Rather, he declares that his real family are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Jesus withdraws from his blood family in a way that he didn’t withdraw from others who tried to make contact with him. He wanted to show clearly that he was in the process of forming a new family. Membership of this family would be determined not by blood but by the willingness to hear the word of God as Jesus proclaims it and then to put that word into practice. We all belong in this new family by virtue of our baptism. We look to Jesus as our brother, to God as our Father, and to Jesus’ mother as our mother. We show that we are faithful members of this family by listening carefully to the word of Jesus and seeking to live it every day of our lives.