Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 16, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.12-20
12Now if Christ is preached, that he rose again from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead13For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen14And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is useless, and your faith is also useless15Then, too, we would be found to be false witnesses of God, because we would have given testimony against God, saying that he had raised up Christ, when he had not raised him up, if, indeed, the dead do not rise again16For if the dead do not rise again, then neither has Christ risen again17But if Christ has not risen, then your faith is vain; for you would still be in your sins18Then, too, those who have fallen asleep in Christ would have perished19If we have hope in Christ for this life only, then we are more miserable than all men20But now Christ has risen again from the dead, as the first-fruits of those who sleep
Psalm 17
1A Prayer of David. Lord, listen to my justice, attend to my supplication. Pay attention to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips2Let my judgment proceed from your presence. Let your eyes behold fairness3You have tested my heart and visited it by night. You have examined me by fire, and iniquity has not been found in me4Therefore, may my mouth not speak the works of men. I have kept to difficult ways because of the words of your lips5Perfect my steps in your paths, so that my footsteps may not be disturbed6I have cried out because you, O God, have listened to me. Incline your ear to me and heed my words7Make your mercies wonderful, for you save those who hope in you8From those who resist your right hand, preserve me like the pupil of your eye. Protect me under the shadow of your wings9from the face of the impious who have afflicted me. My enemies have surrounded my soul10They have concealed their fatness; their mouth has been speaking arrogantly11They have cast me out, and now they have surrounded me. They have cast their eyes down to the earth12They have taken me, like a lion ready for the prey, and like a young lion dwelling in hiding13Rise up, O Lord, arrive before him and displace him. Deliver my soul from the impious one: your spear from the enemies of your hand14Lord, divide them from the few of the earth in their life. Their gut has been filled from your hidden stores. They have been filled with sons, and they have bequeathed to their little ones the remainder15But as for me, I will appear before your sight in justice. I will be satisfied when your glory appears
Gospel: Luke 8.1-3
1And it happened afterwards that he was making a journey through the cities and towns, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him2along with certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had departed3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many other women, who were ministering to him from their resources
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on faith, hope, and the resurrection. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 15 emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection in our Christian faith. St. Paul reminds us that if Christ has not risen, then our preaching and faith are in vain. He underscores that the resurrection is not just a distant hope but the very foundation of our belief. Without it, the entire edifice of Christianity crumbles. The Gospel from Luke 8, on the other hand, presents us with a vivid image of Jesus’ ministry, accompanied by the Twelve Apostles and several women who were healed and supported Him. This passage highlights the communal nature of discipleship and the diverse group of individuals who followed Jesus, each contributing to His mission in their own way.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the transformative power of faith and the importance of living out that faith in community. In Corinthians, Paul’s focus on the resurrection is a call to trust in God’s power to overcome even death itself. In Luke, we see this faith in action through the lives of those who followed Jesus, including the women who were healed and now ministered to Him. Their stories remind us that faith is not just a belief but a way of life that shapes how we love, serve, and support one another.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How does the hope of the resurrection shape our daily lives? Do we live with the confidence that Christ’s victory over death gives us the strength to face life’s challenges? Let us also consider how we, like the women in Luke’s Gospel, can use our unique gifts and experiences to support one another in living out the Gospel. May we remember that our faith is not in vain, for Christ has indeed risen, and His resurrection is the first fruits of our own. Let us strive to live as people of hope, trusting in God’s plan and working together to build a community rooted in love and faith.