Daily Readings - Sun Sep 23 2018
James
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Mark
30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise."32But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.33And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?"34But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.35And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."36And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,37"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 dangers of envy and ambition, and the call to humility and service. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear the wicked plotting against the just, mocking their faith and testing their trust in God. This passage reflects the age-old tension between those who seek to live according to God’s will and those who reject it, choosing instead a path of selfishness and sin. The just one, though seemingly powerless, is revealed to be the true child of God, and his ultimate vindication is certain.
The second reading from the Letter of James provides a complementary message, warning against the destructive power of envy and contention. James reminds us that true wisdom is not marked by rivalry or selfish ambition but by peace, meekness, and a readiness to do good. He traces the source of conflict to our own desires and the failure to seek God’s will in prayer. This teaching calls us to examine our hearts and to pursue a path of humility and harmony.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching his disciples about his impending passion and resurrection, but they fail to understand. Their confusion leads to an argument about who is the greatest, prompting Jesus to teach them about the true nature of leadership. He says, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and the minister of all.” Embracing a child as an example, Jesus emphasizes that true greatness lies in receiving and serving others with humility. These readings remind us that our faith is not about power or status but about living with humility, trust, and a willingness to serve. Let us ask ourselves: Do we seek to be served, or do we serve others? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain? May we strive to live as true disciples of Christ, embracing humility and serving others in love.