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.
May 31 - The Solemnity of Pentecost: Transformation
May 24 - Ascension of the Lord : Call to be witnesses
May 17 - Sixth Sunday of Easter: An invitation to love
May 10 - Fifth Sunday in Easter : Jesus is the Way
May 3 - Fourth Sunday in Easter : I am the Gate
April 26 - Third Sunday in Easter : God who walks with us
April 19 - 2nd Sunday in Easter : The Doubting Thomas
April 12 – Easter : New Life in Christ
April 10 - Good Friday : Cross - the sign of God's love
April 9 - Holy Thursday : Divine Surrender
April 5 - Passion Sunday : Marching with Jesus
March 29 - Fifth Sunday in Lent : He is our Life
March 22 - Fourth Sunday in Lent : Spiritual Blindness
March 15 - Third Sunday in Lent : Living Water
March 8 - Second Sunday in Lent : Transfiguration
March 1 - First Sunday in Lent: Overcoming Temptation
February 23 :
February 16 :
February 9:
February 2 :
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