The 25th Sunday In Ordinary Time 20 September 2009

The 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 20 September 2009 Saint Andrew & Saint William Catholic Church in Verona, Wisconsin Today the Church puts forth a passage from the Gospel of Saint Mark in which Jesus—yet again—draws a connection between the Kingdom of God and children: "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me" (Mark 9:37). In the Gospel of Saint Luke, we hear Jesus say, “Let the children come to Me and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Luke 18:16b-17). The Lord had said this rebuking certain disciples that were trying to keep others from bringing their infant children to Him. In the Gospel passage we hear today, Jesus was rebuking some of the Twelve Apostles who were arguing about which one of them was the greatest. Perhaps we might reflect on the disposition of a child in comparison to the disposition of an adult—this may help us to understand Jesus’ teaching. First, when we think of infants, we are reminded of a refreshing innocence and that young children are very open and receptive, which might be the key to Jesus’ teaching. When Jesus said, “whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child…”, perhaps He was referring to a child’s ability to receive gifts, rather than referring to being childish—as in naïve, oblivious, or blindly obedient. If the Lord calls us to receive the Kingdom, then it must be a gift. This might be the point at which the adult Apostles and disciples had misunderstood Jesus: If the greatest people entered the Kingdom first, then the Kingdom must be meritbased, and one should be able to achieve the Kingdom of God. This is exactly the opposite of what Jesus was instructing! Since the Kingdom of God is a gift, we must be open to receiving it—letting the children around us be reminders that we are all children of God. Another important disposition of children that is important for a healthy faith is that of curiosity. When young children are fascinated by something around them, even before they speak, one can observe genuine curiosity, an inquisitive spirit. Even when they begin to ask the question “Why?”, it is most purely based on a genuine curiosity that seeks truth—when it is pure curiosity, there is a spirit of faith, and there is no skepticism. This may be the point at which many adults miss the point of Jesus’ (and the Church’s) teachings. Whenever there are things around us that may be troubling or difficult to grasp at first, our first reaction is often to ask “Why?” in a spirit of doubt and skepticism, rather than a spirit of faith. May we answer the Lord’s call to be children of God—receptive to the gift of the Kingdom of God, always persuing the Truth with a spirit of faith, hope, and love.

Introductory Rites Hymn at the Procession Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

(Printed on next column.) Tune: WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Hymn at the Procession Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

Tune: WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Kyrie eleison Sung by all in Greek. Gloria in excelsis

Choir/Cantor alone: Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

Choir/Cantor alone: You are seated at the right hand of the Father:

Opening Collect The Priest prays the collect. All respond, Amen.

Chant Mode III

Mass on G Calvin M. Bower

Liturgy of the Word Reading I

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 Let us condemn Him to a shameful death.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 54:3-8 Michel Guimont

Reading II

James 3:16—4:3 The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Gospel Acclamation

A. Gregory Murray, O.S.B.

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Gospel Reading

Mark 9:30-37

“The Son of Man is to be delivered up into the hands of men.”

Homily

Rev. William F. Vernon Pastor

Liturgy of the Eucharist Hymn at the Offertory – 601 O God, You Search Me

Tune: Bernadette Farrell

Sanctus et Benedictus

Mass for the City Richard Proulx

Memorial Acclamation

Mass for the City Richard Proulx

Great Amen

Mass for the City Richard Proulx

Communion Rite The Our Father Sung by all in English.

Traditional Chant

Lamb of God

Richard Proulx

Antiphon at the Communion Mandatum Novum

Hymn of Thanksgiving – 642 What Wondrous Love

Christopher Willcock, S. J.

Tune: WONDROUS LOVE

Prayer after Communion

Concluding Rites Final Blessing and Dismissal Organ Postlude Musical Remarks This week and next, we will be introducing a new hymn, Christ is made the sure Foundation. The hymn tune Westminster Abbey was written by Henry Purcell, who was an English composer of the early Baroque period in the late 17th century. Purcell was appointed the organist at the world-famous Westminster Abbey in London, England at the age of twenty-two. The text of the hymn is an ancient Latin hymn of praise from the 7th century, translated into English. -B. G. Permissions: Glory to God music by Calvin M. Bower. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission of the composer. Psalm 54: The Lord upholds my life music by Michel Guimont © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Gospel Acclamation music by A. Gregory Murray, O.S.B. © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Sanctus et benedictus, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen from Mass for the City. Music by Richard Proulx © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Lamb of God music by Richard Proulx © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Mandatum Novum music by Christopher Willcock © OCP. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission. All other selections in the public domain.