Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 20, 2024
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful reflections on suffering, service, and the mercy of God. The first reading from Isaiah presents the figure of the suffering servant, who bears the sins of many and is rewarded for his faithfulness. This passage, written centuries before Christ, is a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus’ mission. The servant’s willingness to lay down his life for the sake of others highlights the depth of God’s love and the redemptive power of self-giving sacrifice. The second reading from Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, our High Priest, understands our weaknesses and temptations. Though sinless, he shares in our human experience, which gives us confidence to approach God’s throne of grace, where we find mercy and help in our time of need.
The Gospel from Mark underscores the radical nature of Jesus’ teaching on leadership. In a world where power and authority often lead to domination, Jesus flips the script: true greatness is found in serving others. He himself becomes the ultimate example of this, giving his life as a ransom for many. These readings are deeply interconnected, as they all point to the heart of God’s plan: salvation through self-giving love. Isaiah’s suffering servant, Hebrews’ compassionate High Priest, and Mark’s servant-leader all find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who reveals the Father’s mercy and calls us to live in a similar spirit of humility and service.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How can we imitate Christ’s example in our daily lives? In a world that often values power and status, we are called to embrace humility and service. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are invited to put others first and seek greatness in self-giving love. At the same time, let us not forget the immense mercy available to us through Christ, our High Priest. When we stumble or fall short, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that he understands our struggles and offers us grace in our time of need. May we, like the suffering servant, find joy in laying down our lives for others, trusting that God’s will is being fulfilled through our acts of love and service.