Isaiah  50:5-9     

The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me,  my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle.
The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed. My vindicator is here at hand. Does anyone start proceedings against me? Then let us go to court together. Who thinks he has a case against me? Let him approach me. The Lord is coming to my help who dare condemn me?

James 2:14-18    
 
Take the case, my brothers and sisters, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that they have faith. Will that faith save them? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,’ without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.

Gospel Acclamation 

Alleluia, Alleluia,
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; no one can come to the Father except through me. Alleluia

Mark 8:27-35          

Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked ‘who do you say I am?‘ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.‘ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’ He called the people and his disciples to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

Prayer of the Faithful

Father, Son and Spirit, you are generous with your compassion and forgiveness. For this we praise you and thank you. Lord hear us

We know that life can be challenging and at times downright difficult. Bless us with the support of family and community. Lord hear us

Lord, even when the cost to us great, may we have a generous spirit especially for those most in need. Lord hear us

We are mindful of the many communities around the world coping with war and injustice of all kinds. Give us courage to speak for them so they do not feel abandoned. Lord hear us

With hearts filled with thanksgiving, we remember all who have died. Unite us in the kingdom of your love forever. Lord hear us

In quiet we call to mind those who need our prayer and support………Lord hear us

Reflection

Then said a rich man,
"Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

The Prophet Kahlil Gibran


 

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