Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 21, 2023
First Reading: Sirach 2.1-11
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Psalm 37
1Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.4Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil.9For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.18The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.20But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish-vanish like smoke.21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.23If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;24though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;29the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.31The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;33but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.34Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.38But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Gospel: Mark 9.30-37
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 themes of trust in God’s providence, humility, and selfless service. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded that true wisdom lies in enduring trials with patience and faith, believing that God’s plan is at work even in the midst of suffering. The author encourages us to embrace humility and perseverance, trusting that God will restore and reward those who remain faithful. This passage is part of a larger section in Sirach that emphasizes the importance of living virtuously and trusting in God’s wisdom, even when life’s challenges seem overwhelming.
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 among them. Jesus responds by teaching them that true greatness lies in humility and service. He uses a child as an example, emphasizing that receiving the vulnerable and the weak with love is equivalent to receiving Christ himself. This passage is part of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, where he repeatedly emphasizes the cost of discipleship and the necessity of living with humility and compassion.
Together, these readings call us to re-examine our priorities and our relationship with God and others. Sirach reminds us to trust in God’s plan, even when the road is difficult, while Mark’s Gospel challenges us to embrace humility and serve others selflessly. In our daily lives, we are invited to let go of our need for control and recognition, and instead, to trust in God’s providence and to love and serve those around us, especially the most vulnerable. May we strive to live with the humility and faith that these readings inspire, trusting that God’s mercy and love will guide us through every trial.