Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 15, 2021
First Reading: Hebrews 5.7-9
7It is Christ who, in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offered prayers and supplications to the One who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence8And although, certainly, he is the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things that he suffered9And having reached his consummation, he was made, for all who are obedient to him, the cause of eternal salvation
Psalm 31
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David according to an ecstasy. In you, Lord, I have hoped; let me never be confounded. In your justice, deliver me2Incline your ear to me. Hasten to rescue me. Be for me a protector God and a house of refuge, so as to accomplish my salvation3For you are my strength and my refuge; and for the sake of your name, you will lead me and nourish me4You will lead me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me. For you are my protector5Into your hands, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth6You have hated those who practice emptiness to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord7I will exult and rejoice in your mercy. For you have looked upon my humility; you have saved my soul from needfulness8And you have not enclosed me in the hands of the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place9Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am troubled. My eye has been disturbed by wrath, along with my soul and my gut10For my life has fallen into sorrow, and my years into sighing. My virtue has been weakened in poverty, and my bones have been disturbed11I have become a disgrace among all my enemies, and even more so to my neighbors, and a dread to my acquaintances. Those who catch sight of me, flee away from me12I have become forgotten, like one dead to the heart. I have become like a damaged utensil13For I have heard the harsh criticism of many who linger in the area. While assembled together against me in that place, they deliberated on how to take away my life14But I have hoped in you, O Lord. I said, "You are my God.15My fate is in your hands. Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who are persecuting me16Shine your face upon your servant. Save me in your mercy17Do not let me be confounded, Lord, for I have called upon you. Let the impious be ashamed and be drawn down into Hell18May deceitful lips be silenced: those that speak iniquity against the just, in arrogance and in abusiveness19How great is the multitude of your sweetness, O Lord, which you keep hidden for those who fear you, which you have perfected for those who hope in you, in the sight of the sons of men20You hide them in the concealment of your face, from the disturbance of men. You protect them in your tabernacle, from the contradiction of tongues21Blessed is the Lord. For he has shown his wonderful mercy to me, in a fortified city22But I said in the excess of my mind: "I have been cast away from the glance of your eyes." And so, you heeded the voice of my prayer, while I was still crying out to you23Love the Lord, all you his saints. For the Lord will require truth, and he will abundantly repay those who act with arrogance24Act manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all you who hope in the Lord
Gospel: Luke 2.33-35 or John 19.25-27
33And his father and mother were wondering over these things, which were spoken about him34And Simeon blessed them, and he said to his mother Mary: "Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted35And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
25And standing beside the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, and Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene26Therefore, when Jesus had seen his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son.27Next, he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour, the disciple accepted her as his own
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound connection between suffering, obedience, and salvation. In the first reading from Hebrews, we encounter Jesus, the Son of God, who, in His humanity, offered prayers and supplications with cries and tears. Though He was divine, He learned obedience through suffering, and this obedience led to His perfection as the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. This passage reminds us that even the Son of God was not spared the trials of human life, and it is through His perseverance that He became our high priest, understanding and empathizing with our weaknesses.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Simeon’s prophecy at the temple, where he reveals that Jesus will be a sign of contradiction, causing both the ruin and resurrection of many. Simeon also foretells the suffering of Mary, the Mother of God, as a sword would pierce her soul. This passage underscores the transformative power of faith and the inevitable divisions that come with it. Jesus’ mission would challenge the status quo, leading some to fall away and others to rise in faith. Mary’s suffering, in particular, becomes a symbol of the universal experience of those who follow Christ—carrying the cross of faith with courage and trust in God’s plan.
These readings, when taken together, offer a powerful spiritual reflection. They remind us that faith is not without its challenges and contradictions. Like Jesus, we are called to obedience, even in the face of suffering. Like Mary, we are invited to embrace the sword that pierces our souls, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our understanding. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that require us to stand firm in our beliefs, even when they lead to division or hardship. Let us draw strength from the example of Jesus and Mary, knowing that our perseverance in faith can lead to transformation and salvation—not just for ourselves, but for others as well. May we learn to embrace the cross with courage and trust, allowing it to shape us into instruments of God’s grace in a world that often resists His truth.