Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 20, 2024
First Reading: Isaiah 53.10-11
10Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.11After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Psalm 33
1Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.2Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.3Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.4For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.5The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.7He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.10The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.11But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.13From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;14from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-15he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.16No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.17A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.18But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,19to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.20We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.21In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.22May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Second Reading: Hebrews 4.14-16
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Gospel: Mark 10.42-45
42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful reflections on suffering, service, and the mercy of God. The first reading from Isaiah presents the figure of the suffering servant, who bears the sins of many and is rewarded for his faithfulness. This passage, written centuries before Christ, is a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus’ mission. The servant’s willingness to lay down his life for the sake of others highlights the depth of God’s love and the redemptive power of self-giving sacrifice. The second reading from Hebrews reminds us that Jesus, our High Priest, understands our weaknesses and temptations. Though sinless, he shares in our human experience, which gives us confidence to approach God’s throne of grace, where we find mercy and help in our time of need.
The Gospel from Mark underscores the radical nature of Jesus’ teaching on leadership. In a world where power and authority often lead to domination, Jesus flips the script: true greatness is found in serving others. He himself becomes the ultimate example of this, giving his life as a ransom for many. These readings are deeply interconnected, as they all point to the heart of God’s plan: salvation through self-giving love. Isaiah’s suffering servant, Hebrews’ compassionate High Priest, and Mark’s servant-leader all find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who reveals the Father’s mercy and calls us to live in a similar spirit of humility and service.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How can we imitate Christ’s example in our daily lives? In a world that often values power and status, we are called to embrace humility and service. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are invited to put others first and seek greatness in self-giving love. At the same time, let us not forget the immense mercy available to us through Christ, our High Priest. When we stumble or fall short, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that he understands our struggles and offers us grace in our time of need. May we, like the suffering servant, find joy in laying down our lives for others, trusting that God’s will is being fulfilled through our acts of love and service.