Daily Readings for September 28, 2018

1st READING

There is a time for all things. However, it is important to discern what to do — this makes all the difference. Discernment helps make major decisions in life. But we need to avoid rushing into decisions. Let us reflect and contemplate on how the hand of God is at work in us, and how we can cooperate with Him.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

1 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair 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) 3 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 answers well. He believes that Jesus is the Christ. However, Jesus takes this opportunity to teach the Apostles that their expectations for the Christ will not be met by talking about His future suffering and death. The Apostles do not seem to understand what Jesus is saying — the image of a suffering Messiah is not a part of their wildest imagination.

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.”