Wednesday 9/16/2020 Live Stream Mass at St. Monica Catholic Church

Thank you for joining the St. Monica’s Live Stream Mass for Wednesday 9/16/2020, Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

Readings for Wednesday 9/16/2020

Reading 1

Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 33:2-3, 4-5, 12 AND 22

R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Alleluia

JN 6:63C, 68C

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

LK 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

The Music for Life

Gospel Reflection for Wednesday 9.16.2020

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’” Luke 7:31-32

So what does this story tell us? First of all, the story means that children are ignoring the “songs” of each other. Some children sing a song of sorrow and that song is rejected by others. Some sang joyful songs for dancing, and others did not enter into the dance. In other words, the appropriate response was not given to the offer of their music.

This is a clear reference to the fact that so many of the prophets who came before Jesus “sang songs” (meaning preached) inviting people to have sorrow for sin as well as to rejoice in the truth. But despite the fact that the prophets poured out their hearts, so many people ignored them.

Jesus gives a strong condemnation of the people of that time for their refusal to listen to the words of the prophets. He goes on to point out that many called John the Baptist one who was “possessed” and they called Jesus a “glutton and drunkard.” The condemnation of the people by Jesus especially focuses upon one particular sin: Obstinacy. This stubborn refusal to listen to the voice of God and change is a grave sin. In fact, it is traditionally referred to as one of the sins against the Holy Spirit. Do not let yourself become guilty of this sin. Do not be obstinate and refuse to listen to the voice of God.

The positive message of this Gospel is that when God speaks to us we must listen! Do you? Do you listen attentively and respond wholeheartedly? You should read it as an invitation to turn your full attention to God and listen to the beautiful “music” He sends forth.

Reflect, today, upon your willingness to listen. Jesus strongly condemned those who did not listen and refused to hear Him. Do not be counted among their number.

Lord, may I listen, hear, understand and respond to Your sacred voice. May it be the refreshment and nourishment of my soul. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life