Daily Readings for September 16, 2017

1ST READING

Paul knows the magnificent grace he received when he underwent his conversion from a Christian persecutor, to a follower and preacher of Christ. This is what is behind his almost fanatical desire to proclaim the Gospel. He knows the power of the Gospel to transform lives and he wants everybody to experience this. His fervor is easy to understand when you consider his life story.

1 Timothy 1:15-17

15 Beloved: This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. 16 But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 17 To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

P S A L M

Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5, 6-7

R: Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.

1 Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. (R) 3 From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised. 4 High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his  glory. (R) 5 Who is like the Lord, our God, 6 and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? 7 He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. (R)

GOSPEL

The fruit of a person’s life is their legacy to the world, to their family and friends. And the greatest fruit any of us can bear is our willingness to share the Gospel with others. We cannot give anyone any greater gift than the Gospel. This is why living the Gospel and proclaiming it will always bring us the deepest joy and satisfaction.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.

Luke 6:43-49

43 Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 45 A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. 49 But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”