Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 21, 2025
First Reading: Genesis 11.1-9
1Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.2As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.3They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."5But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.6The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.7Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."8So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.9That is why it was called Babel -because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
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.
Gospel: Mark 8.34-38 – 9.1
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound lessons about human ambition and divine humility. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of the Tower of Babel, where humanity, united by one language, sought to build a tower that would reach the heavens. Driven by pride and a desire for self-glorification, they aimed to make a name for themselves. However, God, seeing their arrogance, confused their languages and scattered them across the earth. This story reminds us of the dangers of pride and the limits of human achievement when it is not grounded in humility and trust in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark contrast to the self-exaltation of Babel. He calls His disciples—and us—to embrace a life of self-denial and cross-bearing. True discipleship, He teaches, requires surrendering our own ambitions and desires for the sake of following Him. Jesus warns that those who cling to their lives will lose them, while those who lose their lives for His sake will find true life. This teaching is both a challenge and a promise: it invites us to let go of our need for control and recognition, and instead, to trust in God’s plan and timing.
These readings remind us that our lives are not about building towers to our own glory but about building our relationship with God. Like the people of Babel, we often try to construct our own sense of security and identity apart from God. Yet, Jesus shows us that true fulfillment comes not from self-reliance but from humility and faith. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I trying to build my own tower? Where am I holding onto pride or control? May we instead choose to follow Christ, carrying our crosses with trust and hope, knowing that in losing ourselves for His sake, we will find true life.