Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, C

I Kgs 8: 41-43
Ps. 117
Gal. 1: 1-2, 6-10
Lk 7: 1-10
The Scriptures today intersect on respect for the foreigner. The First Reading gives a portion of the prayer of Solomon as he dedicated the temple in Jerusalem, asking of God that He “do all that the foreigner asks of you, that all the peoples of the earth may know your Name, may fear you as do your people Israel, and may acknowledge that this temple which I have built is dedicated in your honor.” The shortest Responsorial Psalm of the three-year lectionary responds with a missionary thrust, “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News!” (refrain, taken from Mark 16:15) The Gospel pericope tells of the cure of the centurion’s servant in the town of Capernaum. Given the normal attitude of the Jewish inhabitants of Galilee to the occupying forces, it is interesting to hear the reasoning given to Jesus by the elders: “He deserves this favor from you because he loves our people, and even built our synagogue for us.” The centurion, then, would be one of those known as “God-fearers,” Gentiles who respected the Torah and (excepting circumcision and the dietary laws) followed the moral code of the Jewish people. The story takes an interesting turn when the centurion asks Jesus not to make the effort, “for I am not worthy to have you enter my house. Just give the order, and my servant will be cured.” Jesus’ comment to the crowd, “I tell you, I have never found so much faith among the Israelites,” can be echoed today in the behavior of many non-Christians, whose goodness puts to shame many of us who bear the name of Christ.

Today we begin the in-course reading of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Scholars have pointed out to us that Galatians is unique in the Pauline corpus for being an epistle that goes right from the greeting into the heart of the letter, totally skipping the normal “thanksgiving.” Paul is concerned that the Christians of Galatia have been led astray by false teachers. He says to them, “For if even we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel not in accord with the one we delivered to you, let a curse be upon him!” In the weeks to come, we will see what has Paul so concerned that he would write such strong language.

This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:
"God, we pray You: hear the stranger
Who in need calls out Your Name,
Even as You hear Your people,
Treat the alien* just the same." [*treat as a two-syllable word, please]
Thus asked Solomon, entreating
God to hear each foreign claim.

Jesus, too, was thus requested
By the people of the town
Thus to aid a foreign soldier
Who forebore to call Christ down;
"Say the word and God will grant it."
Great that soldier's faith's renown!

All we preach is God's own message:
Jesus Christ, the Lord of all,
Raised by God from death's own thralldom,
Savior of the great and small.
other gospels cannot save us:
"God's free grace!" must be our call.

87.87.87
No suggested tune

Propers from the Roman Gradual

Introit: Respice in me (Ps. 25:16,18,1-2)
Look upon me and have mercy on me, O Lord;
For I am abandoned and destitute.
Consider my abjection and my labor,
And forgive me all my sins, my loving God.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
My God, I put my trust in you, let me not be humiliated.

Offertory: Sperent in te (Ps. 9:11-13)
Let those who know your Name trust in you, O Lord,
For you do not abandon those who seek you.
Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion;
For he does not forget the cry of the poor.

Communion: Ego clamavi (Ps. 37:6)
I have called out because you hear me, O God;
Incline your ear and hear my words.

Alternate: Amen, dico vobis, quidquid (Mk. 11:21) MYM#8
Amen, I say to you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you shall receive it and it shall be done to you.

Propers from the Simple Gradual

The suite of antiphons and psalms from Ordinary Time II (BFW 230–238) —
trust and hope in God — is especially appropriate.

Entrance: BFW 239 (Turn to your people, Lord, have pity on us)
Communion: BFW 81 (In my distress I called out to the Lord . . .)
or BFW 492 (Ask and you will receive . . . )