Year 38 No.

9 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) — Green September 15, 2024

T he mysterious character of
Jesus is often misunderstood
in the Gospel of Mark. In today’s
Michael George Villasis
For the Lord speaks to them
ours. This hard road is precisely
the path the Anointed One takes,
out of utter love for the world,
Gospel, it is no different—Jesus, not of his power and glory, but and precisely because of love
the disciples report, is thought by of his terrible and disgraceful takes it on even if it costs him his
people to be John, or Elijah, or fate: suffering and rejection and very life. And to follow him asks
still, one of the prophets come of us the same costly love—the
death. No wonder Peter began
offering of what we have and
to life. to rebuke him! If following Jesus who we are for the sake of the
“You are the Christ,” Simon leads to abject failure and loss, world. This is the mark of our
Peter says to Jesus, in great then perhaps Peter’s discipleship discipleship, which consoles
contrast to the people’s thoughts. was a discipleship in vain. us along the way—we are on
This confession of faith is brought It is the same with us: despite the right path, though beset by
about not by following the our faith in this powerful Master, suffering, because we have “paid
crowd, but by a personal and when the road takes a turn for the the price” of love, in response to
intimate knowledge through worse and becomes overgrown his own utter love for us.
discipleship. In following Jesus with pain and suffering, we begin Wonder of wonders—the end
on his way, Peter came to know to lose heart. We understand of God’s path is not death and the
him more deeply, from his first him less and less, and become grave. This costly love, because
encounter by the lake to the discouraged and wonder if it is true and perfect self-giving,
many great deeds this wonder- following him ultimately would is stronger than death and the
worker had performed. Thus, grave, and so rises again on
be fruitless, and ask if this path is
the morning of the third day. In
having his eyes opened to the something we should altogether
hope, we know that eventhough
power this man has, Peter could avoid. Isn’t it just human to avoid following this love costs us much,
say with deep faith that Jesus was such hardships and save our this pain is not the end. Though
truly the Anointed One of God. own selves? we may not understand exactly
Yet despite Peter’s deep and “You are thinking not as God how the path twists and turns,
intimate knowledge, this Christ does, but as human beings do.” because it is God’s way, it will
remains all the more mysterious. God has a way different from be for us the way to life.
 P—Lord, have mercy. there­fore I am not disgraced;
THE INTRODUCTORY RITES All—Lord, have mercy. I have set my face like flint,
Entrance Antiphon Gloria knowing that I shall not be
(Cf. Sir 36:18) put to shame. He is near who
(Recited when there is no opening song.) Glory to God in the highest, upholds my right; if anyone
Give peace, O Lord, to those and on earth peace to people wishes to oppose me, let us
who wait for you, that your of good will. We praise you, we appear together. Who disputes
prophets be found true. Hear bless you, we adore you, we my right? Let that man confront
the prayers of your servant, and glorify you, we give you thanks me. See, the Lord God is my
of your people Israel. for your great glory, Lord God, help; who will prove me wrong?
heavenly King, O God, almighty
Greeting Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only —The word of the Lord.
(The sign of the cross is made here.) All—Thanks be to God.
Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb
P—Grace to you and peace of God, Son of the Father, you
take away the sins of the world, Responsorial Psalm (Ps 116)
from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ. have mercy on us; you take away R—I will walk before the Lord,
All—And with your spirit. the sins of the world, receive in the land of the living.
our prayer; you are seated at
Introduction the right hand of the Father, E. C. Marfori
(These or similar words may be used to have mercy on us. For you alone Asus-A7 D Em

 
address the assembly.)
are the Holy One, you alone       
P—Knowing Jesus personally is are the Lord, you alone are the  
I will walk be fore the Lord,
the call and challenge of every Most High, Jesus Christ, with
Christian believer. If we are to the Holy Spirit, in the glory of D Bm Em A

  
3
God the Father. Amen.

accept Jesus as our Lord, we
   
must accept his way of suffering Collect in the land of the
as our own way of life. We must
see Jesus not only in our glorious P—Let us pray. (Pause) Dsus D

4
Look upon us, O God,
moments but above all in our   
pain and suffering. Following Creator and ruler of all things,
li ving.
him involves commitment and and, that we may feel the
deter­mination. Only then can working of your mercy, grant
1. I love the L ORD because
we truly prove ourselves to be that we may serve you with all
he has heard/ my voice in
his disciples. our heart.
supplication,/ because he has
Through our Lord Jesus
Penitential Act inclined his ear to me/ the day
Christ, your Son, who lives and
I called. (R)
P—Brethren (brothers and reigns with you in the unity of
sisters), let us acknowledge our the Holy Spirit, God, for ever 2. The cords of death encom­
sins, and so prepare ourselves to and ever. passed me;/ the snares of the
celebrate the sacred mysteries. All—Amen. netherworld seized upon me;/
(Pause) I fell into distress and sorrow,/
All—I confess to almighty God Liturgy

of the word and I called upon the name of
and to you, my brothers and the LORD,/ “O LORD, save my
sisters, that I have greatly sinned First Reading (Is 50:5–9a) (Sit) life!” (R)
in my thoughts and in my words, The prophet Isaiah presents to us
in what I have done and in what 3. Gracious is the LORD and
the Suffering Servant of God. In just;/ yes, our God is merciful./
I have failed to do, through my his obedience and suffering, this
fault, through my fault, through The LORD keeps the little ones;/
mysterious figure is the embodiment I was brought low, and he saved
my most grievous fault; therefore of the Lord Jesus.
I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, me. (R)
all the Angels and Saints, and A reading from the Book of 4. For he has freed my soul from
you, my brothers and sisters, to the Prophet Isaiah death,/ my eyes from tears, my
pray for me to the Lord our God. THE LORD GOD opens my feet from stumbling./ I shall
P—May almighty God have ear that I may hear; and I have walk before the LORD/ in the
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, not rebelled, have not turned land of the living. (R)
and bring us to everlasting life. back. I gave my back to those
All—Amen. who beat me, my cheeks to Second Reading (Jas 2:14-18)
P—Lord, have mercy. those who plucked my beard; James writes that living faith must
All—Lord, have mercy. my face I did not shield from be authenticated with good works. It
P—Christ, have mercy. buffets and spitting. is not enough to wish someone well;
All—Christ, have mercy. The Lord God is my help, we must attend to that person’s need.
A reading from the Letter of Peter and said, “Get behind Prayer of the Faithful
Saint James me, Satan. You are thinking
not as God does, but as human P—Let us turn to our gracious
WHAT good is it, my brothers Father that he may deepen our
and sisters, if someone says beings do.”
He summoned the crowd faith and strengthen our hope
he has faith but does not have as we acknowledge his Son,
works? Can that faith save him? with his disciples and said
to them, “Whoever wishes Jesus, as our Messiah. With
If a brother or sister has nothing hearts full of confidence, we
to wear and has no food for to come after me must deny
himself, take up his cross, and pray:
the day, and one of you says
to them, “Go in peace, keep follow me. For whoever wishes R—Lord, graciously hear us.
warm, and eat well,” but you to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for my C—For the Holy Father, the
do not give them the necessities
sake and that of the gospel bishops, the clergy, and all who
of the body, what good is it?
will save it.” exercise authority in the Church:
So also faith of itself, if it does
May they continue to be living
not have works, is dead. —The Gospel of the Lord. witnesses of Christ amidst all
Indeed someone might say, All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ. hardships and pastoral concerns.
“You have faith and I have
We pray: (R)
works.” Demonstrate your faith Homily (Sit)
to me without works, and I will C—For all government officials:
demonstrate my faith to you Profession of Faith (Stand) may they acknowledge Jesus
from my works. All—I believe in one God, the as their model and inspiration
—The word of the Lord. Father almighty, maker of heaven so that they can render a more
All —Thanks be to God. and earth, of all things visible honest administration and
and invisible. safeguard the dignity and rights
Alleluia (Gal 6:14) (Stand) I believe in one Lord Jesus of all. We pray: (R)
Christ, the Only Begotten Son of
All—Alleluia, alleluia. May I God, born of the Father before C—For all catechists: may they
never boast except in the cross all ages. God from God, Light continue to dedicate their lives to
of our Lord through which the from Light, true God from the mission of Christ as teachers
world has been crucified to me true God, begotten, not made, and witnesses. We lift to you
and I to the world. Alleluia, consubstantial with the Father; all their hopes and needs. We
alleluia. through him all things were pray: (R)
made. For us men and for our
Gospel (Mk 8:27–35) salvation he came down from C—For the sick, the marginalized,
P—A reading from the holy heaven, (at the words that follow, up the victims of violence and
to and including and became man, all injustice, and those persecuted
Gospel according to Mark
bow) and by the Holy Spirit was for their faith in Christ: may
All—Glory to you, O Lord. incarnate of the Virgin Mary and they acknowledge Jesus as their
JESUS and his disciples set out became man. sure hope and support as they
for the villages of Caesarea For our sake he was crucified go through pressing times. We
Philippi. Along the way he under Pontius Pilate, he suffered pray: (R)
asked his disciples, “Who do death and was buried, and
people say that I am?” They rose again on the third day in C—For all the faithful de­parted:
said in reply, “John the Baptist, accordance with the Scriptures. may they enjoy peace and
He ascended into heaven and happiness in the presence of
others Elijah, still others one of is seated at the right hand of
the prophets.” And he asked the living God. We pray: (R)
the Father. He will come again
them, “But who do you say in glory to judge the living and C—Let us pray for the urgent
that I am?” Peter said to him the dead and his kingdom will concerns of our community
in reply, “You are the Christ.” have no end. and our personal intentions
Then he warned them not to I believe in the Holy Spirit, (pause). We pray: (R)
tell anyone about him. the Lord, the giver of life, who
He began to teach them that proceeds from the Father and P—Father, listen to the suppli-
the Son of Man must suffer the Son, who with the Father and cations of your faithful. Our
greatly and be rejected by the the Son is adored and glorified, needs are great and our troubles
elders, the chief priests, and the who has spoken through the so many, but your love for us
prophets.
scribes, and be killed, and rise I believe in one, holy, catholic, is far greater. Rescue us in our
after three days. He spoke this and apostolic Church. I confess distress as we acknowledge
openly. Then Peter took him one Baptism for the forgiveness Jesus, your Son who redeemed
aside and began to rebuke him. of sins and I look forward to the us, our true hope and lasting
At this he turned around and, resurrection of the dead and the strength both now and forever.
looking at his disciples, rebuked life of the world to come. Amen. All—Amen.
 Liturgy of
the eucharist
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P—Pray, brethren…
All—May the Lord accept the
sacrifice at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good and the good of
all his holy Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P—Look with favor on our
supplications, O Lord, and in
your kindness accept these,
your servants’ offerings, that
what each has offered to the
honor of your name may serve
the salvation of all.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
Preface VIII THE COMMUNION RITE THE CONCLUDING RITES
(Ordinary Time)
The Lord’s Prayer
P—The Lord be with you. P—The Lord be with you.
All—Our Father… All—And with your spirit.
All—And with your spirit. P—Deliver us, Lord…
P—Lift up your hearts. All—For the kingdom, the Solemn Blessing
All—We lift them up to the Lord. power and the glory are yours
P—Let us give thanks to the now and forever. P—Bow down for the blessing.
Lord our God. Invitation to Peace (Pause)
All—It is right and just.
P—It is truly right and just, Invitation to Communion May the God of all con-
our duty and our salvation, (Kneel) solation order your days in his
always and everywhere to give peace and grant you the gifts
P—Behold the Lamb of God,
you thanks, Lord, holy Father, of his blessing.
behold him who takes away
almighty and eternal God. All—Amen.
the sins of the world. Blessed
For, when your children were are those called to the supper P—May he free you always from
scattered afar by sin, through of the Lamb. every distress and confirm your
the Blood of your Son and the All—Lord, I am not worthy hearts in his love.
power of the Spirit, you gathered that you should enter under All—Amen.
them again to yourself, that a my roof, but only say the word
people, formed as one by the and my soul shall be healed. P—So that on this life’s journey
unity of the Trinity, made the Communion Antiphon you may be effective in good
body of Christ and the temple (Cf. Ps 36 [35]:8) works, rich in the gifts of hope,
of the Holy Spirit, might, to the faith, and charity, and may come
praise of your manifold wisdom, How precious is your mercy,
happily to eternal life.
be manifest as the Church. O God! The children of men
All—Amen.
And so, in company with seek shelter in the shadow of
the choirs of Angels, we praise your wings. P—And may the blessing of
you, and with joy we proclaim: Prayer after Communion almighty God, the Father, and
All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God (Stand) the Son, (+) and the Holy Spirit,
of hosts. Heaven and earth are come down on you and remain
full of your glory. Hosanna in P—Let us pray. (Pause)
with you for ever.
the highest. Blessed is he who May the working of this
All—Amen.
comes in the name of the Lord. heavenly gift, O Lord, we pray,
Hosanna in the highest.(Kneel) take possession of our minds Dismissal
and bodies, so that its effects,
Acclamation (Stand) P—Our celebration is ended.
and not our own desires, may
All—Save us, Savior of the always prevail in us. Go in peace, glorifying the
world, for by your Cross and Through Christ our Lord. Lord by your life.
Resurrection you have set us free. All—Amen. All—Thanks be to God.