Daily Readings for September 23, 2016

Memorial of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

1ST READING

When we are in a rush, we miss the important sign that points us in a different direction. Today we are reminded that there is a time for all things. It may not be now, but there is a time for all good things. Let us be patient and trust that, as we walk with Jesus, He will reveal to us what we need to know at the proper time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

1 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every things under the heavens. 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 6 A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What advantage has the worker from his toil? 10 I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. 11 He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

P S A L M

Psalm 144:1, 2, 3-4

R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, 2 my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust. (R)  Lord, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow. (R)

GOSPEL

Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. Then Jesus asks the disciples to keep quiet about it in the meantime. He takes the opportunity to reveal to them why He must suffer and die for their sins. The disciples found this impossible to accept. Nothing could have prepared them for such a radical ending to the ministry of Jesus. However, Jesus also tells them that He will be raised from the dead.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Luke 9:18-22

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ ” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”