TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

INTRODUCTION

September 1, 2024

Good noon/afternoon brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are now in the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Month of September is designated as the National Catechetical Month. Today is also the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

The first reading is taken from the Book of Deutoronomy. Moses said to the Israelites, "In your observance of the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you, nor subtract from it."

The second reading is taken from the Letter of James. We can hear James in this letter saying, "Humbly welcome the word that is planted in you and is able to save your souls."

The gospel is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Mark. In this account, Jesus attacks the scribes and Pharisees who gave greater importance of keeping the tradition of the elders than the essence of God's law, which is love and mercy.

Let us all stand to begin the Eucharistic celebration.

Responsorial Psalm: The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Prayer of the Faithful: Lord, graciously hear us.

FIRST READING

Deut. 4:1-2,6-8

You shall not add to what I command you keep the commands of the Lord.

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy

Moses said to the people: "Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.

Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.

''For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?

Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?"

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ps 15-2-3.3-4.4-5

R. (la) The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.

R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.

R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed.

R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

SECOND READING

Jas. 1:17-18.216-22.27

Be doers of the word.

A reading from the Letter of Saint James

Dearest brothers and sisters: All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.

He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding your- selves.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:

to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA                                       Jas 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia..

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. -For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally

observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.-

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,

"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"

He responded,

"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.

"From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

September 1, 2024

Priest: Let us present to the Almighty Father all our petitions that as we live, we live cultivating the importance of the right moral of dispositions and of obeying His law. Full of trust and confidence, we pray:

LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

1. May the Holy Father, Archbishop Romulo, the clergy and religious men and women be nourished with the Word of God to obey His commandments. Let pray to the Lord.

2. May the civil leaders may be likened to Moses who leads the people they govern towards God. Let us pray to the Lord.

3. May the parents and teachers receive the abundance of grace to teach the children through their good example and in accordance to God's law. Let us pray to the Lord.

4. May the sick, the elderly and the brokenhearted, through the Holy Spirit, may honor the Lord with their hearts to receive healing and consolations. Let us pray to the Lord.

5. May the faithful who have offered their gratitude and praises to the Lord especially _____ be cleansed and strengthened in the Eucharist. Let us pray to the Lord.

6. May the faithful departed especially _____ reach the eternal Kingdom. Let us pray to the Lord.

7. In silence, we pray for our personal and families' intentions.

Priest: Lord God, grant us the grace to know what is right, do what is good and persevere in your service until our last breath. We ask this through Christ. Amen.