Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 4, 2022
First Reading: Wisdom 9.13-18
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Psalm 90
1Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.2Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."4For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.5You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-6though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.7We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.9All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.10The length of our days is seventy years- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.11Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.12Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.13Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.14Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.16May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.17May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.
Second Reading: Philemon 1.9b-10, 12-17
9yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.12I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
Gospel: Luke 14.25-33
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of wisdom, compassion, and the demands of discipleship. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear that human understanding is limited and that true wisdom comes only from God. The author acknowledges the fragility of human thought and the burden of our earthly existence, which makes it difficult for us to grasp God’s plan. Yet, it is precisely through God’s gift of wisdom and the Holy Spirit that we can navigate life’s challenges and align our wills with His. This passage reminds us of our dependence on God and the need to seek His guidance in all things.
The second reading from the Letter to Philemon offers a beautiful example of how wisdom and compassion can transform relationships. Paul, writing while in chains, appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a brother in Christ. Paul’s words are a masterclass in humility and love. He does not demand justice or punishment but instead asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother, not a servant. This reading highlights the power of forgiveness and the way faith can redefine even the most unequal relationships. It challenges us to see others through the lens of Christ and to act with the same kindness and generosity that God has shown us.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a radical vision of discipleship. He tells us that following Him requires a willingness to let go of even the closest earthly ties and to bear the cross. This is not a rejection of love for family or life but a call to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. Jesus uses the parables of the tower builder and the king going to war to emphasize the need for discernment and commitment. True discipleship is not impulsive or half-hearted; it demands a deep surrender and a willingness to renounce everything for the sake of the Kingdom. These readings, taken together, remind us that living as a disciple of Christ is both a privilege and a challenge. It requires us to seek wisdom, to act with compassion, and to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Jesus. May we, like Paul and Philemon, allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and our relationships, and may we be willing to pay the price of true discipleship.