September 28
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
7:45 AM – Parishioners of Holy Cross and Oliver Brown / Rowe Family (Living Intention)
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Zechariah 8:20-23
Thus says the LORD of hosts: There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another, and say, “Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD”; and, “I too will go to seek the LORD.” Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (Zechariah 8:23) God is with us.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
R. God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
“This man was born there.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
R. God is with us.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
R. God is with us.
Gospel Acclamation
Mark 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 9:51-56
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.
“God is with us.”
Reflection
Seems like there is a sense of "Pentecost" foreshadowed in our readings today. Not only because of the indication that those sent out on mission by Jesus will likely face some rejection, but also because of the promise of the Lord's abiding presence and his message spreading to other nations through different tongues, as noted in the Prophet Zechariah. This section of the Gospel of Luke today (9:51ff) begins what's known as the travel narrative: Jesus' long journey to Jerusalem where he will ultimately face his passion and death. While it may have been a passing detail, it wasn't...Jesus was "resolutely determined to journey" there.
A question for our reflection today, how willing are we to travel along the path with Jesus even when we know the journey is laden with burdens? Can we pour out ourselves in selfless, sacrificial love in order to lift others up and draw them into the mercy of God? It's often discouraging to drag along with us whatever load(s) we are carrying, especially when plagued with worry, grief, or doubt—these make an already difficult journey seem impossible. Where is the peace for us today? Jesus was resolutely determined to walk the difficult road. Could it have been his confidence in how he was about to show us his unfathomable, divine love? Could it have been that he so greatly desired eternal life for us all? May we entrust our burdens to the Lord this day that he may help us walk the path of eternal life, and may we help carry others along this same way, too.
Peace,
Fr. Foley
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