23rd Sunday

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C

FIRST READING

Who can conceive what the Lord intends?

A reading from the Book of Wisdom

9:13-18b

Who can know God's counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans.

For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.

And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?

Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?

And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-1

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. 

You turn man back to dust, saying, "Return, O children of men." For a thousand years in your sight/ are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Return, O LORD! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

SECOND READING

Receive him no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother. 

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Philemon

9-10, 12-17

Paul, an old man, I, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment; I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.

Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.

So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA      Ps 119:135

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Anyone of you who does not renounce all possessions cannot be my disciple.

14.25-33

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Gre reat crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.

In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."

The Gospel of the Lord.

INTRODUCTION 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2022

Good noon/afternoon brothers and sisters in Christ. We are now in the 23rd Sunday of the Ordinary time.

The first reading is from the Book of Wisdom. It says: "Who can know God's counsel... Or who ever knew your counsel except you had given wisdom, and sent your Holy Spirit from on high.

The second reading is from the letter of St. Paul. to Philemon. Paul ask Philemon to receive back Onesimus, not anyone as slave but as brothers in the Lord.

And the gospel is from the gospel according to St. Luke. It is about becoming a disciple of Jesus.

Please all stand to begin the Holy Eucharist.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

SEPTEMBER 4, 2022

PRIEST: Brothers and sisters, let us pray to our Loving Father that He will make us true followers of His Son, Jesus Christ. In every petition we say: GRACIOUS FATHER, HEAR OUR SUPPLICATION..

1. For the leaders of the Catholic Church, may the Holy Spirit enlightens them always and gives them wisdom,so that al their words and action will always in consonance with the will of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

2. For all the leaders of our country, may the Lord guides them always, so that they will serve the people with love and justice.. Let us pray to the Lord.

3. For all our brothers and sisters who experience difficulties and pains in life because of sickness, old age and poverty, may the generous God bless and console them, so that they have the courage to face their trials in life. Let us pray to the Lord.

4. For all generous and grateful people, especially _____________bless and give them fulfillment of the desires of their heart according to God's will. Let us pray to the Lord. may God

5. For all the dead especially________

may find eternal rest in heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, give us the graces that we need to be a true disciples of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.