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.
Aug 15th : The Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven – Crown of Glory
August 11th - Ninteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Being Faithful & Being Prepared
August 4 : Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Fool’s Vanity
July 28 : Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Asked and Answered
July 21 st :16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Serving God and Serving Neighbour
July 14 th : Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: What We Must Do
July 7th : 14th Sunday in the Ordinary Time: I have a mission
June 30 : 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Free to Follow
June 23 : 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Who is Jesus?
June 16 : 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Many Sins, Great Love
June 9 : Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Restored to Life
June 2 nd : The Feast of Corpus Christi - the Living bread
May 26 : Holy Trinity Sunday - One God in Three persons
May 19 : Pentecost Sunday - Renewing and recreating
May 12 : Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord - We are witnesses
May 5 : Sixth Sunday of Easter - Our real home is in heaven
April 28 : Fifth Sunday of Easter - Newness, Glory, and Love
April 21 : 4th Sunday of Easter - The Good Shepherd Sunday
April 14 - 3rd Sunday of Easter : To love like Jesus
April 7 - Second Sunday of Easter: I believe
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