Be the last and serve!
Today, Ben Sirach speaks of sufferings that come to people and test them as gold in the fire.
Jesus announces his passion and resurrection for the second time, but the disciples did not understand him. Do we understand? We have begun this Eucharist by placing it under the sign of the cross. Do we understand the cross, especially when it weighs on our own shoulders? The future leaders of the Church, the disciples, are not free from dangerous defects like ambition; they seek the power of the first place in the kingdom, they do not understand that Jesus—and they, too—will have to suffer, and that service and simplicity are required to promote the kingdom.
Reading: Sirach 2:1-10
So, my child, you want to serve God? Then get your life in order,
respect others, and prepare your soul for the trials that will surely
come. Tell your heart what to think; don’t go to sleep on the job.
Bend your ear; listen to your mind. When times get rough, keep your cool.
Take a tip from God. Join hands with him. Don’t slip-slide. Don’t go it alone.
Do the wise thing; make smart choices.
Grief will come. Bear up, and the pain will pass. Humility and patience
are your virtues here. That’s how gold and silver are purified; that’s how
the chosen are toughened and strengthened. Believe in God and he’ll help
you recover. Invest your hope in him and he’ll lead the way. Respect God
and expect one beautiful friendship.
Fear the Lord. His mercy is never far away. Don’t wander off and get
lost. Fear the Lord, but believe in him; your reward is safe with him. Fear
the Lord, but look on the bright side; there’ll be blessings and mercies
galore. You who fear the Lord, love him. He’ll light your candles.
Cast your eye behind you, my children, and what do you see? Some who
were hopefully infused; others who were hopelessly confused.
Gospel: Mark 9:29-36
Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after his murder, he will rise, alive.” They didn’t know what he was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it.
They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?”
The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest.
He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.”
He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.”
Prayer
Lord our God,
you know what is in our hearts.
Purify our thoughts, change our mentality
and give us the attitude of Jesus, your Son.
Help us to identify with Jesus,
to accept suffering as a part of life
and of our efforts to establish your kingdom.
In whatever position we are,
keep us humble, trusting and simple
and may we have no other ambition
than to serve your Son in our sisters and brothers.
For he was the servant of all
and so you made him our Lord for ever. Amen.
Celebración de la palabra
February 26, Tuesday
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