Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 3, 2017
Psalm 63
1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.3Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.4So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.5My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,6when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;7for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.8My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.9But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;10they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.11But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
Second Reading: Romans 12.1-2
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Gospel: Matthew 16.21-27
21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?27For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the call to live a life of sacrifice, renewal, and discipleship. The second reading from Romans urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, and to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This is not merely a call to outward acts of piety but a deeper invitation to let go of worldly ways of thinking and embrace God’s will. The Gospel, from Matthew, presents a dramatic moment in Jesus’ ministry. He reveals to his disciples the necessity of his suffering, death, and resurrection, only to be rebuked by Peter, who cannot accept such a path. Jesus responds by emphasizing that true discipleship requires self-denial and taking up one’s cross. He teaches that saving one’s life in this world leads to loss, while losing one’s life for his sake leads to eternal gain.
The readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the necessity of surrender and transformation. In Romans, St. Paul calls us to surrender our lives to God’s will, while in Matthew, Jesus calls us to follow him even when the path is difficult. Peter’s reaction reminds us that following Christ can challenge our natural instincts and desires. Jesus’ response, “Get behind me, Satan,” reveals that resistance to God’s plan is not just human weakness but a spiritual obstacle. The cross, in this context, is not just a physical burden but a symbol of self-denial and trust in God’s plan, even when it leads to suffering.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to examine where we may be resisting God’s will or clinging to our own desires. Are there areas where we are being called to let go, to surrender, or to trust more deeply in God’s plan? Jesus’ words remind us that true fulfillment and joy come not from avoiding challenges but from embracing them with faith. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to take up my cross, to deny myself, and to follow Christ, even when the path is difficult? May we, like St. Paul, offer our lives as living sacrifices, and may we, like the disciples, follow Jesus with courage and trust, knowing that true life is found in losing ourselves for his sake.