First Reading Wisdom 2:12,17-20
The just one is put to the test.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 54:3-4,5,6 & 8
A prayer for God’s protection.
Second Reading James 3:16—4:3
James teaches about the wisdom from above.
Gospel Reading
Mark 9:30-37
Jesus teaches his disciples that the greatest are those who serve all.
Background on the Gospel Reading
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus again predict his passion, death, and Resurrection to his disciples. The setting here is important. Jesus and his disciples are preparing to journey through Galilee, a Jewish territory in which Jesus has already encountered problems with the Pharisees. Perhaps this is why Mark indicates that Jesus was trying to journey in secret. In predicting his passion, Jesus is acknowledging the danger they will face and is trying to preparing his disciples for it. Yet Mark tells us that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying and were afraid to ask what he meant. Such hesitation on the part of the disciples is not characteristic behavior. Peter had no fear about rebuking Jesus in last week’s Gospel. Perhaps this is an indication that the disciples were aware that a new situation was emerging.
Mark paints a vivid picture in today’s Gospel. Having arrived at Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples enter a house. In this private place, Jesus asks his disciples about the argument they had while they were journeying. Again, the disciples are uncharacteristically silent and afraid to answer. They have been found out. Jesus then summons the Twelve, whom Mark identified earlier in his Gospel as those chosen by Jesus to preach and to drive out demons. To this select group of disciples, Jesus teaches that those who would be first in God’s kingdom must be servants of all.
Jesus then calls forward a child and teaches the Twelve that to receive a child in Jesus’ name is to receive both Jesus and the One who sent him. We might easily fail to understand the significance of this action. In first-century Palestine, children were without status or power, possessing no legal rights. In this action, Jesus is teaching his disciples and us that when we serve the least ones among us, we serve Jesus himself. Who are the people without power or status in our society that Jesus is calling us to serve? Do we do so willingly? Jesus teaches that God’s judgment of us will be based on this criterion alone.
March 30 - Saturday Week Three : Real Prayer
March 29 - Friday Week Three : Love one another
March 28 - Thursdat week Three : Which side are you in?
March 27 - Wednesday Week Three : Glorify the LORD
March 26 - Tuesday Week Three : Forgiveness
March 25 - Monday week Three : Fear Not
March 24 - Third Sunday of Lent: Repentance
March 23 - Saturday Week Two : Mercyfull Father
March 22- Friday Week Two : Wicked Servents
March 21 - Thursday Week Two - Sin of Omission
March 20 - Wednesday Week Two : Servent Leadership
March 19 - Tuesday Week Two : St. Joseph Pray For Us
March 18 - Monday Week two : Reap what you sow
March 17 - Second Sunday of Lent: Transfiguration
March 16 - Satirday Week One : Love your enemies
March 15 - Friday Week One : Unresolved Anger is Sin
March 14 - Thursday Week one : Our Father in Heaven
March 13 - Wednesday Week One : Conversion
March 12 - Tuesday First week of Lent
March 6 - Monday First week of Lent :You Did It To Me
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