Catholic TV Mass Online September 12, 2021: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Presider: Fr. Dan Volkert
Parish: St. Bruno & St. Paul

TEXT FROM THE HOMILY

So, in the gospel story Jesus asks that powerful question, “Who do the people say that I am?” Now in some ways it seems like he's conducting a popular opinion poll based upon Jesus' preaching as well as the miracles that people have witnessed have they formed an opinion of him. Now the apostles they give these wild answers… John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets. Now the common denominator amongst all those answers: they are dead wrong. And then he turns the question to his apostles. Notice they are all quiet. They don't really know who Jesus really is except Peter. Peter answers and he says you are the Christ. Now why is it that Peter knows and the other eleven don't? Is it because Peter is the smartest of all the apostles? Hardly. He's a simply fisherman. And he's illiterate. Is it because Peter is the holiest of all the apostles? Hardly. His faith vacillates. Sometimes it's hot. Sometimes it's cold. Remember the story which Jesus invites him to walk on the water? Peter takes a few steps, starts sinking into the water Jesus grabs him and says, o ye of little faith. The moment when Jesus needed Peter the most in his passion, it's Peter that denied him, three times that he ever knew Jesus. So it begs the question how does Peter get it? Well I think we have to look to Matthew's account of the story in which Jesus says flesh and blood did not reveal this to you. But my heavenly father here's the first lesson that we can take from this. Peter represents the church. Only in the church can we see and understand the fullest expression of the truth as well as the presence of God. Now some people will say, I see God in beauty of nature sure. Or I see God in special events, the birth of a child. Sure. But the fullest understanding of the presence of God and the knowledge of him can only come in the church. In our doctrine and our dogma. In sacred scriptures. In our rituals as well as our sacraments. That's why it's so important to remain in the church. Now notice next in the story, Jesus teaches the disciples and us what discipleship really looks like. He says whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Now realize prior to Jesus, the cross was feared and hated by people it was an instrument of death and yet now through Christ the cross becomes the greatest symbol of self-sacrificing love the world has ever known. Jesus climbs that cross for you and I. He climbs that cross because he loves us so much he wants to save us. And so Jesus said, there is no greater love than to lay one's life down for another. That's what he did for us. Now we must carry our cross in order to follow Jesus. Now we have to live out that self-sacrificing love in the world for others. Yet notice here in the story, before we can carry our cross we have to deny ourself which means we have to take on the attitude my life is not about me. My wants, my desires they all come first, everything is second. No we have to place that aside. Instead we have to put others before ourselves. We have to serve the needs of others before we serve our own. Friends, this is a powerful gospel for us this week. I strongly encourage you to take some time this week, you can't afford not to. Reread this gospel. Pray over it. Jesus tells us his identity but he also reveals his mission. And the consequence of that mission. He tells us our mission.

Entrance: The House that Love Is Building
© 2019, Sarah Hart. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved.
Psalm 116: I Will Walk Before the Lord
Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2016, Casey McKinley. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.
Preparation: Petition
© 2021, Sarah Hart and HippArt Music. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved.
Communion: The Body of Christ
© 2019, 2020, Sarah Hart. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved.

Sending Forth: In Christ Alone
Text: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Music: Keith Ketty and Stuart Townend; keyboard acc. By Rick Modlin, b. 1966
Text and music © 2001, 2009, Thankyou Music (PRS) All rights reserved. Administered at CapitolCMGPublishing.com. Used with permission

Mass Setting: Mass of St. Mary Magdalene
Text © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2018, Sarah Hart. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591.

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