Catechism Links[1]
CCC 539, 565, 600-605, 713: Christ, obedient Servant of God
CCC 786: To serve is to reign
CCC 1547, 1551: Priestly ministry as service
CCC 2538-2540: The sin of envy
CCC 2302-2306: Safeguarding peace
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| “St. James” by Andrea Del Sarto, 1528-29 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
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.
“Not content with enjoying the pleasures of life, the ungodly go further: they persecute the just man because he is a constant reproach to them. They want to see if God, whom the just man calls his father, will protect and rescue him. He calls God his father? Let us see what protection God gives him. If God fails to come to his aid, then they are proved right, and the just man wrong. Their words are echoed in the insults offered by scribes and Pharisees to Jesus when he was on the cross (cf. Matthew 27:40-43; Mark 15:31-32; Luke 23:35-37).” [4]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8
R. (6b)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.
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Reading II: James 3:16-4:3
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 Christian 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.” [5]
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Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
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. It begins with the second prediction of the passion Jesus is to face. The disciples, characteristic of St. Mark’s description, do not understand, and begin to debate among themselves who was greatest. Jesus tells them directly that their role (and by extension the role of all Christian disciples) is one of service.
The Lord sees that they do not understand. 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. He probably uses the example of children to represent the “anawim,” the poor in spirit, the most vulnerable of the Christian faithful.
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Reflection:
In a recent slide show about a missionary trip to Africa, the presenter went through a couple of pictures taken in Kenya
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 these people 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.
The understanding, presented in sacred scripture 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” that the home of their heavenly parent is open to them.
Pax
In other years on September 23 – Memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Priest
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture is “St. James” by Andrea Del Sarto, 1528-29.
[4] The Navarre Bible: “Wisdom Books”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p.269.
[5] See NAB footnote on James 4:1-12.
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