24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year: B)
Date: Sunday, September 15th, 2024, 11:00
Old Testament: Prov. 1:20-33
Psalms: Ps. 19
20Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
22"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.
24But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,
25since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,
26I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-
27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28"Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.
29Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,
30since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
31they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Proverbs 1:20-33 (NIV)
Epistle: James 3:1-12
1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalms 19 (NIV)
Gospel: Mark 8:27-38
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James 3:1-12 (NIV)
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "
30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Mark 8:27-38 (NIV)