7th Week in Ordinary Time
21st February 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 2:1-11
My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be steadfast and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Hold to him and do not depart, that you may reach full growth by the end of your life. Accept whatever is brought upon you and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable people in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight and hope in him. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will certainly not fail; you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy. Consider the ancient generations and see: who trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who called upon him and was overlooked? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction. My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be steadfast and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Hold to him and do not depart, that you may reach full growth by the end of your life. Accept whatever is brought upon you and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable people in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight and hope in him. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will certainly not fail; you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy. Consider the ancient generations and see: who trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who called upon him and was overlooked? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction. My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be steadfast and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Hold to him and do not depart, that you may reach full growth by the end of your life. Accept whatever is brought upon you and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable people in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight and hope in him. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will certainly not fail; you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy. Consider the ancient generations and see: who trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who called upon him and was overlooked? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction.
Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 (R. see 5)
R/. Commit your way to the Lord, and he will act.
Gospel : Mark 9:30-37
At that time: Jesus and his disciples went on from the mountain and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Desire to be great but how?
Indicative: To desire to be great is not wrong. But what are the means that we seek to pursue and obtain this greatness, is the real issue{alertSuccess}
1. Today’s word of God focuses on the theme of greatness. Who is great? How does one become great? What is true greatness? First of all, the greatness that Jesus teaches and proposes is unlike the greatness of the world.
2. For the world, to be great means to be first, to be placed over others, and to exercise power to command them. It also means to be associated with big and important people, that is to have an “elite circle”. To be great is to feel and display one’s importance.
3. Thus, often worldly greatness is understood in terms of importance, power, position, status, domination, commandability, influencing, controlling, and leading others. In this way, greatness is not necessarily connected to the character and virtue of the person.
4. But Jesus challenges this idea of greatness. He proposes a new one. It is to be first by being “the last and the servant of all”. In other words, to be great is to be humble and serviceable. True greatness consists in humility and service. That is why Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”.
5. It is also to receive even the small, insignificant people, associate with them, and treat them with respect. That is why Jesus says, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me”. A child generally indicates vulnerability and insignificance. To be great also means to be prepared to walk the way of the cross and suffer like Jesus.
6. The first reading from Sirach gives us some more concrete details about greatness. It is “to serve the Lord”. It is to “stand in justice and fear”. It is to “prepare oneself for trials, remain undisturbed in adversity, patient when tested in the crucible of humiliation”. It is to be “sincere and steadfast of heart”. It is to “incline one’s ear and receive the word of understanding”.
7. True greatness waits on God with patience. It clings to him and never forsakes him. To be great is to “fear the Lord” always and in everything. Thereby those who fear the Lord would trust the Lord, hope for good things, and love him.
Imperative: Whatever happens, those who are great would not turn away from the Lord. Rather they would be steadfast in his mercy. And they will be wise in all their ways.{alertSuccess}