TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

MASS READINGS

Gospel Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

At that time, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."

Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.

It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.

It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"

REFLECTION

"It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire."

In the United States today we celebrate Priesthood Sunday. According to Serra International:

Priesthood Sunday is a special day set aside to honor priesthood in the United States. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one...

... Priesthood Sunday, however, specifically honors priests, without whom the Mass could not be offered and Sacraments could not be celebrated... *

Without the Sacraments given to us by a priest, such as Communion and Confession, our stride towards holiness is much harder.

I also remember over a decade ago going to Confession on a Saturday and only a handful of people would be standing in line. Many times the priest would sit alone for an hour waiting for his parishioners to partake of the Sacrament. This has truly changed now, at least in our parish, where Confession is offered everyday, sometimes twice a day, and Saturdays for over 2 hours with 3-4 priests, and at least an hour wait.

Unfortunately, priestly vocations have sharply declined in the last 50 years, and many parishes now don't even have a resident priest or pastor to take care of their needs.

Let your priest know you are grateful for them answering the call of Jesus to the priesthood, and let us pray for an increase of priestly vocations from those amongst our community.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

My Lord and my God Jesus, * I thank you for loving me. * In Baptism you called me by name to live as your child. * Help all your people to know their call in life. * For your greater glory, * teach us to pray * and raise up for us generous leaders to serve as * priests, * deacons * sisters, * and brothers.

Amen.

Sources:

* https://serraus.org/priesthood-sunday/