Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 15, 2024
First Reading: Isaiah 50.5-9
5The Lord God has opened my ear. And I do not contradict him. I have not turned back6I have given my body to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked them. I have not averted my face from those who rebuked me and who spit on me7The Lord God is my helper. Therefore, I have not been confounded. Therefore, I have set my face like a very hard rock, and I know that I will not be confounded8He who justifies me is near. Who will speak against me? Let us stand together. Who is my adversary? Let him approach me9Behold, the Lord God is my helper. Who is the one who would condemn me? Behold, they will all be worn away like a garment; the moth will devour them
Psalm 116
1Alleluia. I have loved: therefore, the Lord will heed the voice of my prayer2For he has inclined his ear to me. And in my days, I will call upon him3The sorrows of death have surrounded me, and the perils of Hell have found me. I have found tribulation and sorrow4And so, I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, free my soul5Merciful is the Lord, and just. And our God is compassionate6The Lord is the keeper of little ones. I was humbled, and he freed me7Turn again, my soul, to your rest. For the Lord has done good to you8For he has rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from slipping9I will please the Lord in the land of the living10Alleluia. I had confidence, because of what I was saying, but then I was greatly humbled11I said in my excess, "Every man is a liar.12What shall I repay to the Lord, for all the things that he has repaid to me13I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord14I will repay my vows to the Lord, in the sight of all his people15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his holy ones16O Lord, because I am your servant, your servant and the son of your handmaid, you have broken my bonds17I will sacrifice to you the sacrifice of praise, and I will invoke the name of the Lord18I will repay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem
Second Reading: James 2.14-18
14My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him15So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food16and if anyone of you were to say to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and nourished," and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this17Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself18Now someone may say: "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works
Gospel: Mark 8.27-35
27And Jesus departed with his disciples into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way, he questioned his disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?28And they answered him by saying: "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others perhaps one of the prophets.29Then he said to them, "Yet truly, who do you say that I am?" Peter responded by saying to him, "You are the Christ.30And he admonished them, not to tell anyone about him31And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again32And he spoke the word openly. And Peter, taking him aside, began to correct him33And turning away and looking at his disciples, he admonished Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan, for you do not prefer the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.34And calling together the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone chooses to follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me35For whoever will have chosen to save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life, for my sake and for the Gospel, shall save it
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, trust, and discipleship. The first reading from Isaiah portrays a figure who, despite suffering and humiliation, remains steadfast in his trust in God. This figure, often seen as a prefiguration of Christ, embodies the virtue of perseverance in the face of adversity. The second reading from James emphasizes the importance of living out our faith through concrete actions, warning that faith without works is dead. Finally, the Gospel from Mark presents a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus, where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, but then struggles to accept the reality of the cross. Jesus responds by teaching that true discipleship requires self-denial and taking up one’s cross.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Isaiah’s trust in God, even in the face of suffering, foreshadows Jesus’ own acceptance of his mission, which includes the cross. James’ emphasis on works as an expression of faith complements Jesus’ teaching on the necessity of self-denial and sacrifice. Together, they remind us that faith is not merely an intellectual assent or emotional feeling but a commitment to living out God’s will in our lives. Just as Isaiah set his face “like a hard stone” in trust, and just as Jesus embraced the cross, so too are we called to embrace our own crosses in faith and trust in God.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Do we merely profess faith with our lips, or do we demonstrate it through our actions? Are we willing to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Christ? Like Peter, we may struggle with the idea of suffering, but Jesus reminds us that the path to true life is through self-denial and love. Let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting God even when the road ahead seems difficult? Am I putting my faith into practice by serving others and living out the Gospel? May we, like Isaiah, set our faces firmly toward God, trusting in His plan, and may our faith be made visible through our works of love and sacrifice.