The 26th Sunday In Ordinary Time 27 September 2009

The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 27 September 2009 Saint Andrew & Saint William Catholic Church in Verona, Wisconsin Stark imagery abounds in the Jesus' instructions recorded in the Gospel of Saint Mark: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off" (Mark 9:42-43a). This is a warning that the Lord gives to us, and it can be applied on many different levels, such as on the individual level and on the social (Church) level. For example, each of us can fall prey to certain temptations that might lead us to sinful thoughts or behaviors. We must be diligent in prayer that we would not be led into temptation—as we pray in the Our Father at each Mass—and also be cautious to avoid these temptations as we become aware of them. Jesus is very clear to point out the harm these temptations can cause to the rest of the body, using rather graphic imagery to illustrate the severity of sin. For instance, with the advances in mass media, more people are exposed more frequently to harmful messages from explicit song lyrics, dishonesty in all forms of politics, or glamorous television advertisements, all of which are a few examples of external influences that can introduce sinful thoughts or behaviors. God calls us to extract these elements from our lives as a surgeon would remove a cancer in order to save the rest of the body. On the Church level, Jesus admonishes those who would teach falsehoods and mislead His followers. In the same way that sources of temptation must extracted from an individual to save the body, so must false teachings be corrected in order to save the body—the Church. Individual temptations also manifest themselves in the Church, when leaders would be tempted to disguise their own beliefs as the teachings of the Church—thereby causing harm to the wider Body of Christ. Again, Christ—Who prays for the faith of His Church (Luke 22:3132)—instructs the Church to be wary of false prophets. We must continue to pray that all would be open to continuous and life-long conversion to the teachings of Jesus and His Church. We must pray that the Lord would strengthen all who hold and teach the Catholic faith. May Christ be the sure foundation, for He is the Head and cornerstone, chosen of the Lord and precious, binding all the Church in one. May He be the Church’s help forever and her confidence alone. May Christ’s Body, the Church—loved by God—forever sing hymns of praise to the Blessed Trinity. May the Lord hear the prayers of His faithful servants, who plead for His loving kindness; may He shed His fullest blessings on His holy Church always.

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

Numbers 11:25-29 "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets."

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13 Randolph Currie

Reading II

James 5:1-6 The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Gospel Acclamation

A. Gregory Murray, O.S.B.

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. Gospel Reading

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 He who is not against us is for us.

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 Take and Eat

Hymn of Thanksgiving – 615 Amazing Grace

Tune: Michael Joncas

Tune: NEW BRITAIN

Prayer after Communion

Concluding Rites Final Blessing and Dismissal Musical Remarks Last week and this week, we are 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. -B. G. Permissions: Glory to God music by Calvin M. Bower. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission of the composer. Psalm19: The precepts of the Lord music by Randolph Currie © 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. Take and eat words and music by Michael Joncas © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. All other selections in the public domain.