Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 3, 2023
First Reading: Jeremiah 20.7-9
7O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.8For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Psalm 63
1O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;2To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.3Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.4Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.5My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.7Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.8My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.9But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.10They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.11But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Second Reading: Romans 12.1-2
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Gospel: Matthew 16.21-27
21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected themes that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, sacrifice, and discipleship. The prophet Jeremiah expresses his anguish and frustration as he feels overpowered by God, mocked for his message of repentance, yet unable to silence the divine word burning within him. In Romans, Paul urges believers to offer their lives as living sacrifices, transformed by the renewal of their minds to discern God’s will. The Gospel presents Jesus foreseeing his passion and resurrection, rebuking Peter’s resistance, and calling his disciples to embrace self-denial and carry their crosses.
These readings share a common thread: the call to surrender to God’s will, even when it demands sacrifice. Jeremiah’s struggle and Paul’s exhortation to live as sacrifices highlight the transformative power of aligning our lives with God’s purpose. Jesus’s teachings in Matthew underscore the necessity of embracing the cross, not as an end, but as a means to true life. Together, they remind us that following God often requires us to let go of our own desires and trust in His plan, even when the path is difficult.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to confront our own resistance to God’s will. Like Peter, we may hesitate to embrace the cross, fearing suffering or loss. Yet, Jesus’s words remind us that true life is found in surrender. As we navigate our struggles, may we learn to trust in God’s plan, even when it leads us through darkness. Let us pray for the courage to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him, knowing that in doing so, we find true life and purpose.