About the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
September 15, 2024
The readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B challenge us to open our minds and truly see how Jesus is both human and divine and recognize him as the source of our salvation. In the first reading we hear the prophecy in the Old Testament of how Jesus will save us by being a servant. The second reading tells us that we must follow Jesus in service to others. And in the gospel, Peter identifies Jesus as the messiah, and Jesus foretells his suffering and death.
Do I receive Jesus as my savior and allow him to change my heart? Here are some ideas:
Daily Mass Readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
- First Reading – Isaiah 50:5-9A: “See, the Lord God is my help; who will prove me wrong?”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 116: “I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.”
- Second Reading – James 2:14-18: “Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.”
- Gospel – Mark 8:27-35: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”
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Free Resources for Youth Ministry or Religious Ed
Get Behind Me Satan – A Lesson Plan on Avoiding Pain
The easy choice is not always the right choice. Sometimes we have to be open to making a good decision even though we know it will be really difficult for us.
Prayer of Thanksgiving for Being Saved
This prayer is based on Psalm 116, which is the responsorial Psalm for this Sunday. It expresses gratitude to God for the times when we have prayed and God has come to our rescue.
Would You Rather Game
Would You Rather is a game about choices. Sometimes you have two good things to choose from. Sometimes your options are not that great.
Faith Without Works Quote
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Homilies and Background Material
You Are the Messiah
This reflection from Scott Hahn reminds us that to follow the Messiah means that we must be willing to give some things up. Walking with the Lord is sometimes a difficult journey.
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains that God doesn’t eliminate evil. He enters into our pain with us. He transforms our pain and draws us close in the process.
More thoughts on the readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
We would like an easy path. But that is not what we were promised. We don’t need to seek out suffering, but when we encounter it, we can also encounter a deeper understanding of God’s presence in our lives. For Jesus also suffered. He understands our pain and walks with us.
It is also interesting to note that St. Peter’s profession “You are the Messiah” happens in the very middle of the Gospel of Mark. The previous chapters focus on the preaching of Jesus and his ministry. After this profession, the gospel moves in the direction of Jerusalem and the suffering and death of Jesus. So too, our profession of Jesus as Lord of all should enable us to move forward in our own lives, despite the cost.