The 24th Sunday in

Ordinary Time

13 September 2009

Saint Andrew & Saint William

Catholic Church in Verona, Wisconsin

One of the most fascinating aspects of relationships—between friends,

spouses, co-workers, etc.—is the fact that the depth of that relationship is based
directly on how well both persons know each other. We often pause to reflect on
how our relationships with other people have impacted our lives. Sometimes,
though, we might be unaware of the significant implications of certain
relationships—even the deepest of relationships.
In the Gospel of Saint Mark, we hear that disciples of Jesus had difficulty
identifying their relationship with Him, and even more difficulty understanding
the implications of that relationship. For example, we know that they held the
Lord in high esteem, associating Him with Jeremiah and Elijah—two of the great
and holy prophets of the Old Testament who delivered God’s Word to His
people. For Jesus, this comparison was certainly flattering, since both Elijah and
Jeremiah were great prophets. However, these associations do not capture the full
nature of who Jesus really is. It was Saint Peter who finally identified Jesus as the
Christ—the Messiah; the Anointed One; the Son of David.
The scene quickly shifts from this great revelation to Jesus teaching about
what it really means to be the Christ. While God’s people were expecting a great
and powerful military ruler, the reality of Christ’s mission was quite the opposite,
including rejection, suffering, and death. How puzzling it would have been for
Israel to hear that their long-awaited Messiah would need to suffer and die! Saint
Peter—even though he had correctly identified Jesus as the Christ—had
difficulty understanding the implications of Christ’s nature, namely the path of
humility and servitude. Christ came not to be served, but to serve.
An intimate relationship with Christ has significant implications for us as
followers of Jesus: namely selflessness. While it is our human tendency to seek
glory, power, and fame, Christ calls us to ascribe all power and glory to God.
While it is our human tendency to be served, Christ calls us to service.

Introductory Rites
Hymn at the Procession – 685
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Tune: LAUDA ANIMA

Kyrie eleison Chant Mode III

Gloria in excelsis Mass on G
Calvin M. Bower

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.
 Liturgy of the Word
Reading I Isaiah 50:5-9a

I gave my back to those who strike Me.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 116: 1-9

Michel Guimont

Reading II James 2:14-18

Faith, if it has no works, is dead.

Gospel Acclamation A. Gregory Murray, O.S.B.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord

through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

Gospel Reading Mark 8:27-35

“Thou art the Christ.”

Homily Rev. William F. Vernon

Pastor
 Liturgy of the Eucharist
Hymn at the Offertory – 535
All People That On Earth Do Dwell Tune: OLD HUNDRETH

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 Traditional Chant

Priest: Deliver us, Lord…our Savior, Jesus Christ

Lamb of God Richard Proulx

Antiphon at the Communion
Psalm 42: My Soul is Thirsting for the Lord Richard Proulx

Hymn of Thanksgiving – 557

Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service Tune: BEACH SPRING

Prayer after Communion

Concluding Rites
Final Blessing and Dismissal

Musical Remarks
Some of the earliest texts in the Judeo-Christian liturgical tradition used to
sing praise to God were not freely-composed hymns, but rather came directly from
the Old Testament Book of Psalms. Jewish tradition holds that the Psalms were
written mostly by King David, and seventy-three of the Psalms are in his name.
Historically, the Psalms have occupied a significant part of the musical
tradition of Jewish and Christian liturgies. Particularly in the Roman Catholic
tradition, there are specific Psalms given for each Mass and each Office of the
Liturgy of the Hours—the official prayer of the Church.
At Saint Andrew and Saint William churches, we have been incorporating
more and more Psalmody (repertoire of Psalms) into parts of the Mass where we
haven’t always previous sung them. For example, last week and this week, the
Antiphon at Communion is Psalm 42, My Soul is Thirsting for the Lord. While
there are some songs that are paraphrases of texts from the Psalms, there is a great
precedence in the liturgical tradition of the Church to sing directly from the
Psalms.
There are Psalms that were written in praise of God in all different emotions
and dispositions: sorrow, contrition, hope, joy, etc. They all evoke different
imagery suitable for different aspects of the Christian life, which is why it is easy
to incorporate Psalms like no. 42 as a Eucharistic antiphon. Historically, the
Communion Antiphon—which is still prescribed as the proper song at
Communion—would include a verse from Sacred Scripture, from any Book of the
Bible. These are listed in the Missalettes and personal Missals and Prayer Books
such as Magnificat; however, these antiphons are only part of what the
Communion Anitphon involved. In addition to the antiphon (which served as a
refrain) there are also upwards of ten Psalm verses that are alternated with the
antiphon, much like the way we sing the Responsorial Psalm. The important
element of this reflection is that we are gradually incorporating texts that come
directly from Sacred Scripture where they are most obviously suited. -B. G.

Permissions: Glory to God music by Calvin M. Bower. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission of the composer. Psalm 116: I will walk before
the Lord 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. Psalm 42: My soul is thirsting music by Joseph Gelineau © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights
reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. All other selections in the public domain.