Daily Readings - Sun Sep 23 2018
James
16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Mark
30They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were,31because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."32But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,37"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom, the dangers of envy and ambition, and the call to humility and service. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear the wicked plotting against the just, mocking their faith and testing their trust in God. This passage reflects the age-old tension between those who seek to live according to God’s will and those who reject it, choosing instead a path of selfishness and sin. The just one, though seemingly powerless, is revealed to be the true child of God, and his ultimate vindication is certain.
The second reading from the Letter of James provides a complementary message, warning against the destructive power of envy and contention. James reminds us that true wisdom is not marked by rivalry or selfish ambition but by peace, meekness, and a readiness to do good. He traces the source of conflict to our own desires and the failure to seek God’s will in prayer. This teaching calls us to examine our hearts and to pursue a path of humility and harmony.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus teaching his disciples about his impending passion and resurrection, but they fail to understand. Their confusion leads to an argument about who is the greatest, prompting Jesus to teach them about the true nature of leadership. He says, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and the minister of all.” Embracing a child as an example, Jesus emphasizes that true greatness lies in receiving and serving others with humility. These readings remind us that our faith is not about power or status but about living with humility, trust, and a willingness to serve. Let us ask ourselves: Do we seek to be served, or do we serve others? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain? May we strive to live as true disciples of Christ, embracing humility and serving others in love.