Daily Readings for September 4, 2016

1ST READING

Life is full of challenges and difficulties. If we run away from them, we will hardly grow and our lives will lack substance. Trials are always a source of growth. There will be pain and suffering, but that is our way of life as humans. We should not avoid this if we want to grow in the graces of the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom 9:13-18

13 Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. 15 For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. 16 And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? 17 Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? 18 And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

P S A L M

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17

R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 5 You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, 6 which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. (R)  12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 17 And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! (R)

2ND READING

Paul pleads for Onesimus. It is a plea to recognize the dignity of all persons. There are regimes around the world that trample on human rights and dignity in order to preserve the privileges of the few. This is a sin and the judgment of God will loom over the guilty. When the powerful oppress the poor, the sin is greater. It is the duty of the rich and powerful to protect the rights of the poor and the weak.

Philemon 9-10, 12-17

9 I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10 urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment; 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.

GOSPEL

Once again, Jesus reminds us that discipleship is “not a walk in the park.” Following Jesus involves discipline on a daily basis. The biggest priority should be our relationship with God, more than with family and friends. Good intentions are not necessarily the will of God for us. We need to discover His will and obey it.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Let your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws.

Luke 14:25-33

25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.