Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 17, 2021
First Reading: Isaiah 53.10-11
10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.11Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Psalm 33
1Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.4For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!13The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;14from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,19that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Second Reading: Hebrews 4.14-16
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Gospel: Mark 10.42-45
42And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.43But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,44and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of service, sacrifice, and the humility of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear about the suffering servant who bears the sins of many and through his labors, justifies and satisfies the will of God. This passage is a profound prophecy of Christ, who would take on the weight of humanity’s sins and offer himself as a ransom for many. The context of this passage is rooted in the expectation of a Messiah who would restore Israel, but it also points to the universal salvation that Christ would bring. Isaiah emphasizes that true greatness is found in self-giving love and humility.
The second reading from Hebrews builds on this theme by presenting Jesus as our great High Priest, who understands our weaknesses and temptations because he experienced them himself, though without sin. The author encourages us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus intercedes for us. This reading reminds us that Jesus’ priesthood is not one of distant authority but of compassionate solidarity. He is a leader who understands our struggles and offers us mercy and grace in our time of need.
In the Gospel, Mark contrasts the worldly understanding of leadership, where power is exercised over others, with the Christian ideal of servant-leadership. Jesus teaches that true greatness in his kingdom is found in serving others. He himself is the ultimate example of this, for he came not to be served but to serve, even to the point of giving his life as a ransom for many. This teaching challenges us to reevaluate our own attitudes toward power and authority. Are we seeking to dominate, or are we willing to humble ourselves and serve others?
These readings call us to embrace a life of humility and service. In a world that often values power and status, Jesus shows us a different way. He invites us to follow him in pouring out our lives for the sake of others. Let us ask ourselves: How can I serve those around me today? How can I imitate Christ’s humility and self-giving love? May we approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus understands our struggles and intercedes for us. And may we strive to live as servants, following the example of the one who gave his life for us all.