Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 26, 2022
First Reading: James 5.13-20
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Psalm 141
1O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you.2May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.3Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.4Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.5Let a righteous man strike me-it is a kindness; let him rebuke me-it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;6their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.7They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave. "8But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge-do not give me over to death.9Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers.10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
Gospel: Mark 10.13-16
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, prayer, and humility in our relationship with God and with one another. In the first reading from James, we are reminded that prayer is not just a private act but a communal one. James encourages us to pray for one another, especially in times of suffering or sin, and to seek healing through the sacraments. He emphasizes that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and can bring about great things, even changing the course of nature, as seen in the example of Elijah. This passage also highlights the importance of reconciling with one another and seeking forgiveness, for it is through such acts of humility and love that we grow closer to God.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a scene where Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of God by using the example of little children. When the disciples try to prevent the children from approaching Jesus, he corrects them, saying that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with the simplicity and trust of a child. Jesus’ words remind us that humility and openness are essential for entering into a deeper relationship with God. The children, in their innocence and dependence, model for us the kind of faith we should strive for—a faith that is unpretentious, trusting, and open to receiving God’s love.
Together, these readings call us to live with humility and trust in God. James teaches us to rely on prayer and the support of our community, while Mark reminds us to approach God with the simplicity and openness of a child. In our daily lives, this means letting go of pride and self-reliance, and instead, turning to God with faith, especially in times of difficulty. It also means valuing the relationships around us, praying for one another, and seeking forgiveness when we fail. May we learn to trust in God’s providence and to live with the humility and dependence that brings us closer to His heart.