THE WORD
FIRST READING Is 53: 10–11
But it was the LORD’s will to crush him with pain.
By making his life as a reparation offering,
he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days,
and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him.
Because of his anguish he shall see the light;
because of his knowledge he shall be content;
My servant, the just one, shall justify the many,
their iniquity he shall bear.
SECOND READING Heb 4: 14–16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
GOSPEL READING Mk 10: 35–45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. “Master,” they said to him “we want you to do us a favor.” He said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized?” They replied, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptized you shall be baptized, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.”
When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No, anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
IN OTHER WORDS
Why mission? I remember one of my heroes, Fr Jerry Orbos, SVD, in one of his inspiring homilies on television. He stressed that 2/3 of the world’s population still had not heard the gospel. More than half of the world did not know what our Lord Jesus Christ did to save all peoples. After I heard those words, my heart was never the same again. That was in 1994. At that time I thought I understood ‘why mission.’ The following year I entered the seminary. This is now my 10th year as an SVD missionary here in Africa. As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, the same call reverberates all over the world: MISSION! St. Joseph Freinademetz, the first SVD missionary to China, has this to say about mission, “If there is no one to proclaim the Gospel, people will not be drawn near to the Lord”. What a tremendous task for all of us missionaries. And what a privilege to share in the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is that this is not exclusive to a missionary congregation like the SVD. The mission is for all by virtue of our baptism. You and I are privileged to be called to mission. But it comes with great responsibility also. As St. Mark puts it in the gospel today, “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Service and sacrifice are two key elements of mission. Let us serve the Lord joyfully whether in Africa or at home. And, for sure, with our true witnessing and living out of the Gospel that we proclaim, we will indeed draw people near to the Lord. Happy World Mission Sunday to all!
- Ariel Tampus, SVD (Botswana, Africa)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
