Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 16, 2022
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.12-20
12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Psalm 17
1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.11They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.13Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Gospel: Luke 8.1-3
1And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
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.