October 17
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
Sat. 4:00 PM – John & Leonora Stach / Ellyn Lubel
Sun. 7:30 AM – Michael Whalen / Relihan & Foraker Families
Sun. 10:30 AM – Lucy McLean / Ralph Torrillo & Family
Sun. 5:00 PM – Jules Pagano / Kathleen Pagano
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Isaiah 53:10-11
The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.
If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Second Reading
Hebrews 4:14-16
Brothers and sisters: 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 Acclamation
Mark 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
“Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”
Reflection
Many of us want the best for ourselves. We want the nicest houses, the best job, the tastiest food and so on. We believe that we deserve it, saying to ourselves; “I have worked hard and suffered a lot to get where I am today, why shouldn’t I get the best stuff that is available to me?” There is nothing wrong with this kind of thinking, but when we look at it in light of the sufferings that Jesus experienced for our sins, then having the best stuff might not seem so important to us.
We are not the only ones who want the best for ourselves. Our Gospel today tells us about two of Jesus’ apostles, James and John, who want some preferential treatment from Jesus. They seem to think that somehow they deserve a special place in the coming Kingdom of God. They certainly have and will continue to suffer for the Kingdom, but so will the other apostles as well. Even thinking about their request for a special place in the coming Kingdom betrays some disordered thinking on their part. They approach Jesus as if he were some kind of wish-granting Genie who could give them whatever they want. Jesus does not work like that for them, and not for us either.
The one thing that characterizes Jesus’ life on this earth is humble service. He is God and as such, is heir to all the power of God. Yet he gave that power up to come to earth and serve us. As he says; “The one who wishes to be first among you will be your servant.” In this way of thinking, we should offer all the best stuff to others and be satisfied with whatever humbleness comes to us. Only through humility can we learn to be the servant of those we come across in the world. Only through service can we obtain the Kingdom of God.
Keep the faith,
Deacon Dare
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