1st READING
James wants to remind His listeners that we need to actively avoid any self-promotion when it comes to our service in the Kingdom of God. It is essential that we remain humble and meek at all times in order to never allow pride any place in our lives. Pride is one of the biggest enemies of the Gospel since, to receive the gift of salvation, one must humbly ask it from Jesus. If we are too proud, we will think it is beneath us to ask for anyone’s help for anything.
James 4:1-10
1 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? 2 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. 3 You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 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. 5 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”? 6 But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. 9 Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
P S A L M
Psalm 55:7-8, 9-10, 10-11, 23
R: Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
6 [7] And I say, “Had I but wings like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest. 7 [8] Far away I would flee; I would lodge in the wilderness.” (R) 8 [9] “I would wait for him who saves me from the violent storm and the tempest.” 9 [10] Engulf them, O Lord; divide their counsels. (R) In the city I see violence and strife, 10 [11] day and night they prowl about upon its walls. (R) 22 [23] Cast your care upon the Lord, and he will support you; never will he permit the just man to be disturbed. (R)
GOSPEL
I wonder what it would have been like to know that you were going to die a violent death even though you were innocent of all sin. It is one thing to go to war with the knowledge that this is dangerous; it would be totally different to know you will die through no fault of your own. Such a reflection only serves to make me more impressed in the humility and love that Jesus manifested on the cross. Hopefully, we can imitate His empathy and compassion more faithfully.
LIST
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
Mark 9:30-37
30 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31 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.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. 33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35 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.” 36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “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.”
think: Pride is one of the biggest enemies of the Gospel since, to receive the gift of salvation, one must humbly ask for it from Jesus.
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Colossians 1-4nd READIN
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