29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
1st Reading: Is 53:10-11
Yet it was the will of Yahweh to crush him with grief.
When he makes himself an offering for sin, he will have a long life and see his descendants.
Through him the will of Yahweh is done.
For the anguish he suffered, he will see the light and obtain perfect knowledge.
My just servant will justify the multitude; he will bear and take away their guilt.
2nd Reading: Heb 4:14-16
We have a great high priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered heaven. Let us, then, hold fast to the faith we profess. Our high priest is not indifferent to our weaknesses, for he was tempted, in every way, just as we are, yet, without sinning. Let us, then, with confidence, approach the throne of grace. We will obtain mercy and, through his favor, help in due time.
Gospel: Mk 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Master, we want you to grant us what we are going to ask of you.” And he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, when you come in your glory.”
But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized in the way I am baptized?” They answered, “We can.” And Jesus told them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink; and you will be baptized in the way that I am baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.”
On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John. Jesus then called them to him and said, “As you know, the so-called rulers of the nations behave like tyrants, and those in authority oppress the people. But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be our servant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all. Think of the Son of Man, who has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”
Lectio Divina
Read: The suffering servant of Yahweh will take away our guilt and free us. Thanks to Jesus, the high priest, we can approach the throne of grace and claim mercy. Jesus teaches his disciples the concept of servant leadership, in response to the request for special favors by the Zebedee brothers.
Reflect: The other ten disciples were angry at James and John precisely because the latter almost grabbed what the other ten themselves might have loved to have, but never dared to ask – special favors and positions in Jesus’ Kingdom! It took the maternal heart of Jesus to call them all together and teach them how one must learn to put others before self and learn to give rather than to grab.
Pray: Pray for the leaders of the Church.
Act: Reach out to your pastor and let him know how you appreciate his ministry.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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