Daily Readings - Sun Sep 22 2024

¹²Therefore, let us encircle the just, because he is useless to us, and he is against our works, and he reproaches us with our legal offenses, and makes known to us the sins of our way of life¹⁷Let us see, then, if his words are true, and let us test what will happen to him, and then we will know what his end will be¹⁸For if he is the true son of God, he will receive him and deliver him from the hands of his adversaries¹⁹Let us examine him with insult and torture, that we may know his reverence and try his patience²⁰Let us condemn him to a most shameful death, for, according to his own words, God will care for him.

James

Chapter 3

¹⁶For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work¹⁷But within the wisdom that is from above, certainly, chastity is first, and next peacefulness, meekness, openness, consenting to what is good, a plenitude of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without falseness¹⁸And so the fruit of justice is sown in peace by those who make peace

Chapter 4

¹Where do wars and contentions among you come from? Is it not from this: from your own desires, which battle within your members²You desire, and you do not have. You envy and you kill, and you are unable to obtain. You argue and you fight, and you do not have, because you do not ask³You ask and you do not receive, because you ask badly, so that you may use it toward your own desires

Mark

Chapter 9

³⁰And setting out from there, they passed through Galilee. And he intended that no one know about it³¹Then he taught his disciples, and he said to them, "For the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and having been killed, on the third day he will rise again.³²But they did not understand the word. And they were afraid to question him³³And they went to Capernaum. And when they were in the house, he questioned them, "What did you discuss on the way?³⁴But they were silent. For indeed, on the way, they had disputed among themselves as to which of them was greater³⁵And sitting down, he called the twelve, and he said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be the last of all and the minister of all.³⁶And taking a child, he set him in their midst. And when he had embraced him, he said to them³⁷"Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives not me, but him who sent me.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom, the roots of conflict, and the call to humility. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear the voice of the wicked plotting against the just, testing whether God will truly come to the defense of the righteous. This passage reflects the age-old tension between those who live according to God’s ways and those who reject them. The wicked, driven by envy and malice, seek to destroy the just, believing that their own power and schemes will prevail. Yet, this passage also hints at the ultimate vindication of the righteous, as God’s wisdom and justice will shine through in the end. The second reading from the Letter of James complements this theme by identifying the source of conflict and division. James reminds us that wars and quarrels arise not from external circumstances but from the desires that wage war within us. He contrasts earthly wisdom, which is marked by envy and selfish ambition, with the wisdom that comes from above, which is pure, peaceful, and merciful. True wisdom, James tells us, is not about winning arguments or achieving power but about sowing peace and justice in our relationships with others. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching his disciples about the true nature of his mission. Jesus predicts his passion and resurrection, but the disciples fail to understand, and instead, they argue among themselves about which of them is the greatest. Jesus responds by placing a child in their midst, teaching them that true greatness lies in humility and service. To welcome a child, he says, is to welcome him and the Father who sent him. This lesson challenges us to reorient our priorities, recognizing that the last shall be first and the servant of all shall be the greatest in God’s kingdom. These readings call us to examine our own lives and relationships. Where do we allow envy, ambition, or selfishness to take root? How do we respond to suffering or misunderstanding? The wisdom of God, as revealed in these passages, is not about power or prestige but about humility, mercy, and self-giving love. Let us strive to live out this wisdom in our daily lives, seeking to serve rather than be served, and to welcome the least among us as we would welcome Christ himself. In doing so, we will find the true peace and justice that only God can give.