Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection, 17 October 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Sunday October 17, 2021
Twenty-Ninth Sunday of the Year
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
MISSION SUNDAY
The Mass for the Evangelisation of People may be said as indicated in the Roman Missal. Special Prayer and Collection for the Missionary works of P.M.S (Roman Missal chapter 2)
Theme of the Sunday: AN AUTHORITY TO COMMAND? NO, TO SERVE! In the Church we should not have leaders who issue orders and subjects who obey; a class of people who are respected, honoured and full of privileges and a lower class with lower dignity. All are brothers and sisters, and all must see themselves as the servants of others. The various abilities and talents we are granted by God are not to cause division, to help us rule over, or to compete with others. All our gifts must be a source of communion and complementarity. To be great means to be the last and the servant of all, just as Christ was, this is the message of the gospel. The first reading shows us God preparing his people to adopt the mentality of service and of giving up one’s life that Jesus was to illustrate later. The second reading tells us that the Son of God was not afraid to come down to the level of the human being. He became one of us and shared our condition. Shouldn’t his disciples have the courage to lower themselves to the level of the least among us?
FIRST READING
“When he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days,.”.
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 53: 10-11)
It was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief, when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 33:4-5.18-19.20 and 22 (R. 22)
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord
For the word of the Lord is faithful,
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right,
and his merciful love fills the earth. R.
Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,
who hope in his merciful love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. R.
Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
May your merciful love be upon us,
as we hope in you, O Lord. R.
SECOND READING
“Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Brethren: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Mark 10:45
Alleluia. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“The Son of man came to give his life as a ransom for many.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:35-45)
At that time: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Or shorter:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:42-45)
At that time: Jesus called [the Twelve] to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Christ’s death is our ransom.
PRIEST: Jesus Christ suffered, died, and rose again to bring us the new life of grace. We pray to the Lord for all the graces which the world needs to receive this new life of Christ.
READER:
FOR CHAPLAINS TO HOSPITALS, (pause) let their compassion for the sick and encouragement for hospital staff flow from their awareness of the value of human suffering, when it is linked to the Cross and Resurrection. (pause) Lord, hear us; of our fear of suffering we pray Oh Lord.
FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION, (pause) let them be sensitive to the personal needs of patients and hospital staff, and see their work as a sharing in Christ‘s ministry of healing. (pause) Lord, hear us; of our fear of suffering we pray Oh Lord.
FOR THOSE WHO TURN AWAY FROM GOD BECAUSE OF SUFFERING, (pause) let them believe that suffering, undertaken in union with Christ, is not waste or frustration but can be turned into the great blessing of personal growth in holiness. (pause) Lord, hear us; of our fear of suffering we pray Oh Lord.
FOR A GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF SUFFERING IN OUR OWN LIVES, (pause) let us bless the Lord in our health and ask him for his grace, which helps us to bear the burden of sickness and makes us trust in his strength to sustain us. (pause) Lord, hear us; of our fear of suffering we pray Oh Lord.
In silence, we pray to God the Father for our own private intentions.
PRIEST: Father, we make our prayers to you, conscious not only of our own weaknesses and fears, but of your abiding love and healing power. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today’s Reflection
Everyone likes to be in a place of honour. It is not sinful to desire an honourable position. But it is important to know what it means to be in such position. People see position of honor as opportunities to serve themselves and trample on other persons. This is because they seek their own gain and not the good of the people. Jesus uses the ambition of James and John to remind us that whatever position we occupy if for service. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Do I want to serve or do I want to be served? Do I want to cultivate the spirit of Christ or do I want to lord it over others?