Liturgical Readings for : Wednesday, 25th September, 2024
Wednesday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2
Optional memorial of St Finbarr, bishop
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Proverbs 30:5-9
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
To his words make no addition, lest he reprove you and know you for a fraud.
Every word of God is unalloyed, he is the shield of those who take refuge in him.
Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die:
keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches,
grant me only my share of bread to eat,
for fear that surrounded by plenty, I should fall away and say, ‘the Lord-who is the Lord?’
or else, in destitution, take to stealing and profane the name of my God.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118
Response Your word is a lamp for my steps, O Lord.
1. Keep me, Lord, from the way of error and teach me your law.
The law from your mouth means more to me than silver and gold. Response
2. Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens.
I turn my feet from evil paths to obey your word. Response
3. I gain understanding from your precepts and so I hate false ways.
Lies I hate and detest but your law is my love. Response
Gospel Acclamation Col 3: 16
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you;
through him give thanks to God the Father.
Alleluia !
or Mk 1: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
The kingdom of God is close at hand, repent and believe the Good News.
Alleluia !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 9:1-6 Glory to you, O Lord
Jesus sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases,
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
He said to them,
‘Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there.
As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.
‘So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Wednesday Twenty Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 9:1-6
There is a striking contrast in today’s gospel reading. Jesus gave the twelve a share in his own power to heal and cure as he sent them out on mission. Yet, he also sent them out in weakness, telling them to take very little for the journey, no staff or haversack or bread or money or spare tunic. It is as if Jesus wanted his power to be revealed in human weakness and vulnerability. It is often the case that the Lord works most powerfully through our experiences of weakness and frailty. Many of us feel weak and frail from time to time. Just as Jesus asks his disciples in the gospel reading to forego much of what most people rely on, we all find ourselves having to forego something or someone. Yet, in such times of loss and weakness, the Lord continues to work powerfully within us and among us. Such times can throw us back more fully on the Lord who is present to us in difficult times as well as in good times.
The first reading declares that God is the shield of those who take refuge in him. When Jesus sent out the twelve in such a vulnerable state, it was because he wanted them to rely on God as their shield, rather than over relying on themselves. When we experience our weakness and frailty in a more pronounced way, it is an opportunity to rely more fully on the Lord as our shield. As Saint Paul reminds us in one of his letters, the Lord’s power can be made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9).
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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd.
