Daily Readings - Sun Sep 22 2024
James
16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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.
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 nature of true wisdom, the roots of conflict, and the call to humility. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear the voice of the wicked plotting against the just, testing whether God will truly come to the defense of the righteous. This passage reflects the age-old tension between those who live according to God’s ways and those who reject them. The wicked, driven by envy and malice, seek to destroy the just, believing that their own power and schemes will prevail. Yet, this passage also hints at the ultimate vindication of the righteous, as God’s wisdom and justice will shine through in the end.
The second reading from the Letter of James complements this theme by identifying the source of conflict and division. James reminds us that wars and quarrels arise not from external circumstances but from the desires that wage war within us. He contrasts earthly wisdom, which is marked by envy and selfish ambition, with the wisdom that comes from above, which is pure, peaceful, and merciful. True wisdom, James tells us, is not about winning arguments or achieving power but about sowing peace and justice in our relationships with others.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching his disciples about the true nature of his mission. Jesus predicts his passion and resurrection, but the disciples fail to understand, and instead, they argue among themselves about which of them is the greatest. Jesus responds by placing a child in their midst, teaching them that true greatness lies in humility and service. To welcome a child, he says, is to welcome him and the Father who sent him. This lesson challenges us to reorient our priorities, recognizing that the last shall be first and the servant of all shall be the greatest in God’s kingdom.
These readings call us to examine our own lives and relationships. Where do we allow envy, ambition, or selfishness to take root? How do we respond to suffering or misunderstanding? The wisdom of God, as revealed in these passages, is not about power or prestige but about humility, mercy, and self-giving love. Let us strive to live out this wisdom in our daily lives, seeking to serve rather than be served, and to welcome the least among us as we would welcome Christ himself. In doing so, we will find the true peace and justice that only God can give.