Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
The wicked say:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Wis 2:12, 17-20
In this passage from Wisdom we see scripture usually associated with the Passion of the Lord. It draws heavily on imagery from the “suffering servant” in Isaiah (Isaiah 52-66). The motives and feelings of those who oppose God are laid bare in clear language as is their reaction to one who comes from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8
R. (6b)The Lord upholds my life.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
For the haughty men have risen up against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8
Psalm 54 is an individual lament. The psalmist first cries out to the Lord for help against a godless enemy. In the second part, praise and sacrifice are offered as a consequence of the salvation confidently expected.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: James 3:16-4:3
Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
Where do the wars
and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions
that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jas 3:16-4:3
This passage is part of a discussion about “true Wisdom” and is linked to a broader discussion about teaching. The selection begins with a warning against Jealousy and selfish pride. These are also part of the list of vices recorded in 2 Corinthians 12 :20. This is followed by St. James synthesis of Christina wisdom capturing parts of the beatitudes (Matthew 5 :3-10) and from the teaching of St. Paul (Galatians 5 :22-23).
In the second part of the passage St. James takes up issues resulting from failing to adopt Christian wisdom. “The concern here is with the origin of conflicts in the Christian community. These are occasioned by love of the world, which means enmity with God (4). Further, the conflicts are bound up with failure to pray properly (cf Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13; 15:7; 16:23), that is, not asking God at all or using God's kindness only for one's pleasure.”[4]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 9:30-37
This selection describes Jesus’ interaction with the disciples following the cure of the boy with the Mute Spirit. Jesus and his disciples continue their journey through Galilee and he teaches them in private about what is to come giving them the second prediction of the passion.
While the disciples clearly understand the Lord is to leave them, they do not yet grasp the nature of his mission as they are arguing about who among them will be greatest once victory is achieved. The Lord sees this in them and when they don’t respond to his direct question he gives them the example of first a servant and then a child so they can understand that it is through humility and innocence that God’s servants lead. Jesus tells them directly that their role (and by extension the role of all Christian disciples) is one of service. He probably uses the example of Children to represent the “anawim”; the poor in spirit, the most vulnerable of the Christian faithful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
In a recent slide show about a missionary trip to Africa, the presenter went through a couple of pictures taken in Kenya saying “These are pictures of some of the ‘street children’, that is children who have no parents and live on the streets.” We have all seen pictures of similar scenes. Usually they are presented by aid organizations asking for donations. But most of us will never come face to face with a young child who has lost both parents and is forced to live on the streets because there is no relative to take them in, no governmental agency to insure they have a place to stay reasonably safe from harm.
Who among us would not reach out to such as these to try to help? We use this question today because it is part of the analogy the Lord uses in St. Mark’s Gospel. Each day we encounter those who have lost their Heavenly Father. They have become the poor children, bereft of hope for salvation, having lost the means for their eternal survival.
In most cases we walk on by these “poor in spirit”. We feel we cannot help those who do not want to be helped and we accept their situation, one they willingly embrace. Why do they not see that they are orphans? Are they so blind that they do not understand that faith in God is something they desperately need? If we ask most of them they will say they are spiritual people and do not need “church” or organized religion of any sort. They believe they will get the reward of the “good person” when they come face to face with death.
As disciples of Jesus we are called to reach out to such as these. We are asked to lead them back to the Lord if we are able. We are told most eloquently today that the way we must do this is by serving such as these with compassion, consolation, and love. We cannot argue them into belief for the most part. They have to come to understand that there is something important missing in their lives; something they need and can find only through faith.
This understanding of the servant heart of discipleship is at the core of Christian wisdom and leadership. We pray today that we might find the strength to lead others to Christ and the means with which to show the “orphaned children” the home of their heavenly parent is open to them.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “St. James” by Andrea Del Sarto, 1528-29
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[4] See NAB footnote on James 4:1-12
Readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
The wicked say:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Wis 2:12, 17-20
In this passage from Wisdom we see scripture usually associated with the Passion of the Lord. It draws heavily on imagery from the “suffering servant” in Isaiah (Isaiah 52-66). The motives and feelings of those who oppose God are laid bare in clear language as is their reaction to one who comes from God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8
R. (6b)The Lord upholds my life.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
For the haughty men have risen up against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8
Psalm 54 is an individual lament. The psalmist first cries out to the Lord for help against a godless enemy. In the second part, praise and sacrifice are offered as a consequence of the salvation confidently expected.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: James 3:16-4:3
Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
Where do the wars
and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions
that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jas 3:16-4:3
This passage is part of a discussion about “true Wisdom” and is linked to a broader discussion about teaching. The selection begins with a warning against Jealousy and selfish pride. These are also part of the list of vices recorded in 2 Corinthians 12 :20. This is followed by St. James synthesis of Christina wisdom capturing parts of the beatitudes (Matthew 5 :3-10) and from the teaching of St. Paul (Galatians 5 :22-23).
In the second part of the passage St. James takes up issues resulting from failing to adopt Christian wisdom. “The concern here is with the origin of conflicts in the Christian community. These are occasioned by love of the world, which means enmity with God (4). Further, the conflicts are bound up with failure to pray properly (cf Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13; 15:7; 16:23), that is, not asking God at all or using God's kindness only for one's pleasure.”[4]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mk 9:30-37
This selection describes Jesus’ interaction with the disciples following the cure of the boy with the Mute Spirit. Jesus and his disciples continue their journey through Galilee and he teaches them in private about what is to come giving them the second prediction of the passion.
While the disciples clearly understand the Lord is to leave them, they do not yet grasp the nature of his mission as they are arguing about who among them will be greatest once victory is achieved. The Lord sees this in them and when they don’t respond to his direct question he gives them the example of first a servant and then a child so they can understand that it is through humility and innocence that God’s servants lead. Jesus tells them directly that their role (and by extension the role of all Christian disciples) is one of service. He probably uses the example of Children to represent the “anawim”; the poor in spirit, the most vulnerable of the Christian faithful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
In a recent slide show about a missionary trip to Africa, the presenter went through a couple of pictures taken in Kenya saying “These are pictures of some of the ‘street children’, that is children who have no parents and live on the streets.” We have all seen pictures of similar scenes. Usually they are presented by aid organizations asking for donations. But most of us will never come face to face with a young child who has lost both parents and is forced to live on the streets because there is no relative to take them in, no governmental agency to insure they have a place to stay reasonably safe from harm.
Who among us would not reach out to such as these to try to help? We use this question today because it is part of the analogy the Lord uses in St. Mark’s Gospel. Each day we encounter those who have lost their Heavenly Father. They have become the poor children, bereft of hope for salvation, having lost the means for their eternal survival.
In most cases we walk on by these “poor in spirit”. We feel we cannot help those who do not want to be helped and we accept their situation, one they willingly embrace. Why do they not see that they are orphans? Are they so blind that they do not understand that faith in God is something they desperately need? If we ask most of them they will say they are spiritual people and do not need “church” or organized religion of any sort. They believe they will get the reward of the “good person” when they come face to face with death.
As disciples of Jesus we are called to reach out to such as these. We are asked to lead them back to the Lord if we are able. We are told most eloquently today that the way we must do this is by serving such as these with compassion, consolation, and love. We cannot argue them into belief for the most part. They have to come to understand that there is something important missing in their lives; something they need and can find only through faith.
This understanding of the servant heart of discipleship is at the core of Christian wisdom and leadership. We pray today that we might find the strength to lead others to Christ and the means with which to show the “orphaned children” the home of their heavenly parent is open to them.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is “St. James” by Andrea Del Sarto, 1528-29
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[4] See NAB footnote on James 4:1-12
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