Daily Catholic Mass Readings for May 22, 2018
First Reading: James 4.1-10
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Psalm 55
1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Gospel: Mark 9.30-37
30And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.31For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.32But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.33And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?34But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of humility, service, and the transformative power of grace. The first reading from the Letter of James confronts us with the reality of conflict and division, which arise from our own selfish desires and worldly ambitions. James calls us to recognize that our struggles often come from within, from a heart divided between God and the allure of the world. He urges us to humble ourselves, to resist the devil, and to draw near to God, promising that God will then draw near to us. This passage reminds us that true peace and harmony can only be found by surrendering our pride and embracing a life of humility and grace.
In the Gospel, Mark presents us with a contrasting vision of greatness. Jesus predicts His own suffering and death, but the disciples are more focused on arguing about which of them is the greatest. Jesus responds by upending their understanding of power and status. He takes a child as an example, teaching that true greatness is found in serving others with humility. To welcome a child in His name, Jesus says, is to welcome Him and the One who sent Him. This passage challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and to embrace a life of selfless service, recognizing that the last shall be first in the Kingdom of God.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both call us to reject the worldly pursuit of power and status and instead to embrace a life of humility and service. James warns us against the dangers of envy and arrogance, urging us to seek grace through humility. Mark’s Gospel shows us that true greatness is not about dominance but about love and service. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where are we allowing selfish desires to divide us? How can we humble ourselves and seek God’s grace? How can we serve others with the same selfless love that Jesus has shown us? May we strive to live as children of God, welcoming Him into our lives and into the lives of those around us.