Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 21, 2025
First Reading: Genesis 11.1-9
1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.3And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.6And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech."8So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
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.
Gospel: Mark 8.34-38 – 9.1
34And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?37For what can a man give in return for his life?38For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound lessons about human ambition and divine humility. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of the Tower of Babel, where humanity, united by one language, sought to build a tower that would reach the heavens. Driven by pride and a desire for self-glorification, they aimed to make a name for themselves. However, God, seeing their arrogance, confused their languages and scattered them across the earth. This story reminds us of the dangers of pride and the limits of human achievement when it is not grounded in humility and trust in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark contrast to the self-exaltation of Babel. He calls His disciples—and us—to embrace a life of self-denial and cross-bearing. True discipleship, He teaches, requires surrendering our own ambitions and desires for the sake of following Him. Jesus warns that those who cling to their lives will lose them, while those who lose their lives for His sake will find true life. This teaching is both a challenge and a promise: it invites us to let go of our need for control and recognition, and instead, to trust in God’s plan and timing.
These readings remind us that our lives are not about building towers to our own glory but about building our relationship with God. Like the people of Babel, we often try to construct our own sense of security and identity apart from God. Yet, Jesus shows us that true fulfillment comes not from self-reliance but from humility and faith. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I trying to build my own tower? Where am I holding onto pride or control? May we instead choose to follow Christ, carrying our crosses with trust and hope, knowing that in losing ourselves for His sake, we will find true life.