Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 5, 2021
First Reading: Isaiah 35.4-7
4Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;6then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
Psalm 146
1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!2I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.3Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.4When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets the prisoners free;8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.9The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.10The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Second Reading: James 2.1-5
1My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.2For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,3and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet,"4have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?5Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Gospel: Mark 7.31-37
31Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.32And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.33And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."35And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.36And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.37And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, healing, and the call to unbiased faith. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a future filled with redemption, where the blind see, the deaf hear, and the lame leap. This prophecy speaks of a time when God’s presence will transform despair into joy and brokenness into wholeness. It is a promise of comfort and renewal, reminding us that God’s plan is one of restoration and salvation.
The Gospel of Mark brings this prophecy to life through the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Jesus’ compassionate act transcends physical limitations, demonstrating His divine power and mercy. By healing the man, Jesus not only restores his physical senses but also opens him to the Good News. This miracle is a testament to Jesus’ mission to include all people in God’s kingdom, regardless of their condition. The healing also reflects the spiritual awakening Isaiah foretold, where barriers are broken down, and all can experience God’s grace.
James’ epistle challenges us to embody this inclusive love in our daily lives. He warns against favoritism, urging us to treat everyone with equal respect and dignity. Just as Jesus reached out to those on the margins, we are called to embrace those often overlooked. True faith, James reminds us, is not about outward appearances but about living out God’s love without partiality. As we reflect on these readings, let us strive to create communities where everyone feels valued and included, trusting in God’s transformative power to heal and renew us all.