MASS READINGS
September 07, 2003 (Readings on USCCB website)
COLLECT PRAYER
Lord our God, in you justice and mercy meet. With unparalleled love you have saved us from death and drawn us into the circle of your life. Open our eyes to the wonders this life sets before us, that we may serve you free from fear and address you as God our Father. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
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Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, readings are taken from cycle B.
The first reading is from the book of Isaiah, 35:4-7, and contains the beautiful verse, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy; for water gushes in the desert, streams in the wasteland, the scorched earth becomes a lake, the parched land springs of water.
The second reading is from the letter of James 2:1-5, "it was those who are poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him. The subject is that we should not grade people according to external appearance, for a person's quality is something that derives from his union with God--the more humble and understanding he is, the more honor he deserves.
The Gospel is from St. Mark 7:31-37, "Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, 'Ephatha', that is, 'Be opened'. And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly." This echoes the first reading and brings out the theological lesson of the cure: the age of Messianic salvation, announced by Isaiah, has arrived with Jesus.
Things to Do: Spend time meditating on today's readings; Take this Bible Study Course from St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
