Daily Readings - Tue May 21 2024

James

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.

Mark

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the dangers of ambition, pride, and selfishness, while also offering a path toward humility, service, and union with God. In the first reading from James, we are reminded that conflicts and divisions arise from our own desires and envy. James calls us to recognize that our struggles often stem from seeking the things of the world, which can lead us away from God. He urges us to humble ourselves, to draw near to God, and to seek His grace, for it is in humility that we find true exaltation. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching His disciples about His upcoming passion and resurrection, but they fail to understand. Instead, they argue among themselves about who is the greatest. Jesus responds by teaching them—and us—that true greatness is found in service and humility. He uses the example of a child to illustrate that receiving the least among us is equivalent to receiving Christ Himself. This teaching challenges us to reorient our priorities, to let go of our selfish ambitions, and to embrace a life of love and service. These readings remind us that our lives are often marked by struggles and competitions, but these are rooted in our own pride and desires. Jesus and James call us to a different way: a way of humility, surrender, and selfless love. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I seeking to serve or to be served? Am I drawing near to God, or am I chasing the fleeting things of the world? May we humbly seek God’s grace, embrace the beauty of service, and find true greatness in the eyes of God.