Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 9, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 9.16-19, 22b-27
16For if I preach the Gospel, it is not glory for me. For an obligation has been laid upon me. And woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if I do this reluctantly, a dispensation is granted to me18And what, then, would be my reward? So, when preaching the Gospel, I should give the Gospel without taking, so that I may not misuse my authority in the Gospel19For when I was a free man to all, I made myself the servant of all, so that I might gain all the more22To the weak, I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. To all, I became all, so that I might save all23And I do everything for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become its partner24Do you not know that, of those who run in a race, all of them, certainly, are runners, but only one achieves the prize. Similarly, you must run, so that you may achieve25And one who competes in a contest abstains from all things. And they do this, of course, so that they may achieve a corruptible crown. But we do this, so that we may achieve what is incorruptible26And so I run, but not with uncertainty. And so I fight, but not by flailing in the air27Instead, I chastise my body, so as to redirect it into servitude. Otherwise, I might preach to others, but become myself an outcast
Psalm 84
1Unto the end. For the wine and oil presses. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. How beloved are your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!2My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have exulted in the living God3For even the sparrow has found a home for himself, and the turtle-dove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young: your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God4Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord. They will praise you from age to age5Blessed is the man whose help is from you. In his heart, he is disposed to ascen6from the valley of tears, from the place which he has determined7For even the lawgiver will provide a blessing; they will go from virtue to virtue. The God of gods will be seen in Zion8O Lord, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Pay attention, O God of Jacob9O God, gaze upon our protector, and look upon the face of your Christ10For one day in your courts is better than thousands elsewhere. I have chosen to be lowly in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners11For God loves mercy and truth. The Lord will give grace and glory12He will not withhold good things from those who walk in innocence. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who hopes in you
Gospel: Luke 6.39-42
39Now he told them another comparison: "How can the blind lead the blind? Would they not both fall into a pit40The disciple is not above his teacher. But each one will be perfected, if he is like his teacher41And why do you see the straw that is in your brother’s eye, while the log that is in your own eye, you do not consider42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ while you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? Hypocrite, first remove the log from your own eye, and then will you see clearly, so that you may lead out the straw from your brother’s eye
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear St. Paul and Jesus offering profound insights into the nature of service and self-awareness. St. Paul, in his First Corinthians, emphasizes the importance of selfless dedication to spreading the Gospel. He humbly accepts his role as a servant, adapting to various circumstances to reach all people. He uses the analogy of a race to illustrate the discipline and focus needed to achieve spiritual goals, reminding us that our efforts should be purposeful and directed towards eternal rewards.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the dangers of hypocrisy and the necessity of self-reflection. Using the parable of the blind leading the blind, He cautions against the futility of guiding others without first addressing our own shortcomings. Jesus further emphasizes this by pointing out the hypocrisy of noticing a small fault in someone else while ignoring a greater one in ourselves. This calls us to introspection and humility before we can truly help others.
These readings remind us that our faith must be lived out with both humility and purpose. Just as St. Paul adapted himself to serve others, we too should approach our mission with selflessness and dedication. At the same time, Jesus teaches us to examine our own lives before addressing the faults of others. By embracing these teachings, we can live out our faith authentically, fostering a community of compassion and genuine service. Let us strive to be humble servants, mindful of our own need for growth, and dedicated to the pursuit of holiness in all we do.