Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

Jas 4:1–10; Ps 55:7 – 8, 9 –10a, 10b –11a, 23; Mk 9:30 – 37

Daily Gospel

First Reading: Jas 4:1–10

Beloved:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come
from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your
members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but
you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess
because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because
you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Adulterers! Do
you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity
with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world
makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that the
Scripture speaks without meaning when it says, The spirit that
he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy? But he
bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:
God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.
So submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee
from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your
laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 55:7 – 8, 9 –10a, 10b –11a, 23

R./ Throw your cares on the Lord,
      and he will support you.

And I say, “Had I but wings like a dove,
I would fly away and be at rest.
Far away I would flee;
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
R./ Throw your cares on the Lord,
      and he will support you.

“I would wait for him who saves me
from the violent storm and the tempest.”
Engulf them, O Lord; divide their counsels.
R./ Throw your cares on the Lord,
      and he will support you.

In the city I see violence and strife,
day and night they prowl about upon its walls.
R./ Throw your cares on the Lord,
      and he will support you.

Cast your care upon the LORD,
and he will support you;
never will he permit the just man to be disturbed.
R./ Throw your cares on the Lord,
      and he will support you.

Gospel Reading Introduction
(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, do not understand that Jesus - and they too - will have to suffer, and that service and simplicity are required to promote the kingdom.

Gospel Reading: Mk 9:30 – 37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey
through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of
Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and
three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they
did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question
him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he
began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among
themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down,
called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be
first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a
child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around
it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in
my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not
me but the One who sent me.”

Commentary

The human mind has a remarkable ability for missing the point. After Jesus' teaching of His impending suffering and death, His apostles can think of nothing but themselves. Still, Jesus proposes a remedy for their seemingly hopeless self-centeredness. By giving them the example of welcoming a child, Jesus teaches that it is by extending ourselves in acts of kindness, mercy and hospitality that we will find true meaning and purpose in life.
Living as Jesus lived is always the good life. If it is greatness that we seek in life, then we will find it only through consistency in looking after the needs of others.

General Intercessions

- For those who are the greatest in the Church, that they may serve with great dedication and without looking down the weakest, the poorest, those wounded in life, we pray:

- For the mighty of this earth, that they may care about the rights, the dignity and the well-being of especially the lowliest masses under their charge, we pray:

- For those working in lowly jobs shunned by others, for those who have unhealthy or dangerous tasks, that we may appreciate them and that the Lord may help them, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we bring before you ordinary food and drink,
the signs of everyday life;
and yet, in these your Son will become present here.
Is it that you wanted to teach us
that we have not to look for you
in extraordinary places and things
but in the simplicity of the familiar?
On account of your Son, accept us as we are,
just ordinary people willing to serve you.
We ask you this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Our God and Father,
you have been patient with us
as Jesus was with his disciples.
When we were proud of our own achievements
you placed before us your perfect servant, Jesus Christ,
and let us look at him and share his table.
Make us like him, straightforward, spontaneous,
and eager to serve you in our brothers and sisters.
We know that we are in your hands
and that you will support us
on account of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

That terrible hunger for power and prestige! It is doing much damage, also in the Church, in our Christian communities. May God give you rather the spirit of service and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.