*Sunday March 2, 2025* *EIGHTH SUNDAY THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR (C)* *Mass Proper; Gloria. Creed.* *Vestment: Green* *Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery* *Theme of the Sunday:* _*BE CAREFUL OF SO-CALLED ‘MASTERS’!*_ The first reading gives us wise counsel. To ascertain what is in the heart of a person we should let them speak and we should listen carefully to what they say. The gospel gives us a series of “sayings” of Jesus about the “masters” of the Christian community. We should listen to what they say to see the store from which they draw their words, from the store of the Master or from the rubbish heap of their passions? The second reading is about our imperishable and immoral body. In the world to come we will have a new language, used only for praising the Lord. Here on earth we use it, at times, to cause harm to others. *ENTRANCE ANTIPHON* Cf. Ps 17: 19-20 The Lord became my protector. He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me. *The Gloria* Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you. We bless you. We adore you. We glorify you. We give you thanks for your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. *COLLECT* Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and that your Church may rejoice, untroubled in her devotion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - *FIRST READING-* _“Do not praise a man before you hear him speak.”_ *A reading from the Book of Sirach* (Sirach 27:4-7) When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man’s filth remains in his thoughts. The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of just men is in tribulation. The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man’s mind. Do not praise a man before you hear him speak, for this is the test of men. *The word of the Lord.* *RESPONSORIAL PSALM* Psalm 92: 1-2. 12-13.14-15 (R. see la) *R/. It is good to give thanks to you, O Lord.* It is good to give thanks to you, O Lord. to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your loving mercy in the morning, and your truth in the watches of the night. *R/.* The just will flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a Lebanon cedar. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. *R/.* They will still bear fruit when they are old, still full of sap, still green, to proclaim that the Lord is upright. In him, my rock, there is no wrong. *R/.* *-SECOND READING-* _“He gave the victory to us through Jesus Christ.”_ *A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians* (1 Corinthians 15: 54-58) Brethren: When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. *The word of the Lord.* *ALLELUIA* Philippians 2: 15d-16a Alleluia. You will shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. Alleluia. - *GOSPEL* - _“Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ”_ *A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke* (Luke 6:39-45) At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” *The Gospel of the Lord.* *Creed* I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible, I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ the only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father from all ages, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation. He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life, who proceed from the father and son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and life of the word to come. Amen. *PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL* *Celebrant* : Our Lord, Jesus Christ, invites us to develop our interior lives and to bear fruits that are in accord with the Gospel of Christ. With this in mind, let us ask him to purify our hearts and for the grace to live in accordance with his will. *FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH:* that, by the godly example of their lives, they may lead many more persons into accepting Christ’s message of salvation. We pray O Lord. *FOR THOSE IN PUBLIC OFFICES:* that they may pursue the common good over and above any personal gain or advantage. We pray O Lord. *FOR ALL PRO-LIFE MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD:* that their constant efforts to defend and protect human life may yield ever-greater results, so that every person may come to realize that life is a sacred gift from God. We pray O Lord. *FOR OURSELVES:* that we may be less judgmental of the weaknesses of others but look more into our shortcomings and seek ways of making amends. We pray O Lord. *FOR OTHER INTENTIONS:* (the sick, church projects or other activities). For the dead, especially those of our parish community and family members: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord. We pray in silence for our private intentions. *Celebrant:* Heavenly Father, we rejoice in your word and trust in your compassion. Make our hearts like that of your Son, so that in all we do, your name may be praised and we may be sanctified. Through Christ our Lord. *R/. Amen* .