Tuesday, September 19, 2006
24th Week in Ordinary Time
Januarius


ONE BODY, AN INFINITE VARIETY

1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31; Psalm 100:1-2,3,4-5; Luke 7:11-17


Daily Gospel

Opening Prayer

Father, whose purpose it is
to unite everyone in Jesus your Son,
do not allow us to have separate tables
or exclusive reservations
neither for the eucharist
nor in our communities.
Whatever way we come, rich or poor,
saints or sinners, healthy or weak,
keep us united in mutual respect and love
in the one body of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

Introduction to the First Reading
        Paul makes a strong statement against the Corinthians for their division between rich and poor at the eucharistic celebration. Underlying his reprimand is that the Corinthians act against something basic to Christianity: the eucharistic body of Christ builds up the Church as his ecclesial body. If they eat the one body of Christ and share the same cup, they ought to be one. They are to be the sign of the unity of all humankind in Christ.

First Reading: 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of
the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in
one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews
or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to
drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many.
Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the Church to be, first,
Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties
of tongues. Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all
speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Strive eagerly for the greatest
spiritual gifts.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1-2,3,4-5

R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

For he is good, the LORD,
whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Introduction to Gospel Reading
      

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:11-17

A little later Jesus went to a town called Naim and many of his disciples went with him-a great number of people. As he reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother and she was a widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople.

On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and said, "Don't cry." Then he came up and touched the stretcher and the men who carried it stopped. Jesus then said, "Young man, awake, I tell you." And the dead man got up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. A holy fear came over them all and they praised God saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people." This news spread out in the Jewish country and the surrounding places.

Commentary

We have all been baptized into the Spirit of Jesus to honor our God, our Father. We are citizens of God, part of the Body of Christ. Those with the most authority or power are those who serve the most members of the Body and we are to be servants, first and foremost. Jesus, the servant of God looks first for those most in need: a widow whose only son has died. In fact with no one to care for her, she would have died too. And Jesus raises the son and brings them both back to life in the community.

Do we live to bring and share life with others? Are we the prophets of life not just in word, but also in action?

General Intercessions

- That the day may come when all who believe in Christ may sit at the same table to break the bread of the Lord, we pray:

- That the eucharist may build us up more as Church, uniting us more as the body of Christ in prayer, thanksgiving to God, and concern for the weak, we pray:

- That the eucharist may unite the whole community in mutual forgiveness, acceptance and sharing, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, Father of all,
let this holy feast meal
be to us indeed the Lord's supper,
where we put aside our squabbles and differences
not only for a moment
but where we can forget them.
Let your Son here in our midst
make us one of heart and mind
as the people you love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Our one Father of all,
we have been one for a little while
around the table of your Son.
We thank you for having made us
different from each other,
each with one's own identity and character,
one's talents, and even one's faults.
Thank you for saving us
from the monotony of sameness.
May we thus sing to you
a living symphony of many voices,
and nourish us with the same bread
united by the one mentality
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

It is a real shame that people who meet in the Lord, listen to his word, and eat the eucharist from his table are divided and discriminate against one another. May in his goodness God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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