Sunday Reading Reflections
"For whoever is not against us is for us."
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
Click COMMENTS below to leave your reflections.
First Reading
Book of Numbers, Chapter 11, Verses 25-29
1. Eldad and Medad didn’t follow the rules. Therefore Joshua wanted to stop their prophesying. Can you relate to this kind of problem? What was Moses’ response? Is there any similarity to Jesus’ response in the gospel?
2. Does the Spirit work in other religions? Ever? Always? What might the Spirit be doing there? Do you look for gifts in other people to see what actions God might taking through them?
Second Reading
Letter of St. James, Chapter 5, Verses 1-6
1. Wages withheld from the harvesters cry aloud, James says. How does his message apply today?
2. The rich got their wealth at the expense of the poor. Explain this in terms of the harvesters in the reading. How does humane treatment relate to a living wage? To profound respect?
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 9, Verses 38-43, 45, 47-48
1. John in the Gospel and Joshua in the First Reading had the same problem. What was Jesus’ response to the idea that no one outside the inner circle was to minister in his name? Can anyone lay exclusive claim to the reign of God as Jesus revealed it?
2. Did Jesus mean the words “cutting off hands” literally? If not, how do you interpret it?
Share Your Reflections
Please click COMMENTS below and leave your comments and reflections on this Sunday's Readings.
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I feel bad when friends leave the Catholic Church and become Protestants. But I have to admit that most times, I also feel a certain sense of importance just because I'm Catholic and they are not. In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus yanks me to the reality that it's what I do in His name that matters. And being Catholic is just a label that doesn't matter if I behave contrary to God's Word.
ReplyDeleteThe Gospel moved me today. It offers ways and answers on how w can relate to our Protestant friends.
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ReplyDelete1. Eldad and Medad didn’t follow the rules. Therefore Joshua wanted to stop their prophesying. Can you relate to this kind of problem? What was Moses’ response? Is there any similarity to Jesus’ response in the gospel?
Yes. I think that every human can relate to this kind of problem. Often, even if something is not new to us we maybe timid to approach it or respond to the rules. I remember is nun telling me, Yes, the church is where we meet as a community to celebrate and honor the death of Christ for our sins but that Jesus is in us all the time. Therefore, we can speak to him and be heard by him always. Viscera.
Yes, Go sell what you have and give to the poor is a directive. However, remember that Jesus had different messages for different people in the gospel. "the rich man went away very sad, for he had many possessions." This weekend one of the Deacons at my church preached that we are mere stewards of the money that God gives us. "We should not hug our blessings to ourselves but we are called to share them," We do not own our possessions. So, if we ask for more possessions or riches, what are we really asking for if we are followers of Jesus? We are asking for more work, which is fine if this is the path that God has for us and the will He has for us, to be a dispenser of possessions and we realize that he could at any time ask us to give every thing up. We are asking God to put more into our hands so that we can share it with others, if we are true believers. However, for this rich man, I think it was a little different. Here we have a man who was personally invited by God Himself perhaps even to be one of the Apostles! "sell all you have and come follow Me" Peter answered the call. Peter also did not have many possessions but he had to give up, to sacrifice as well. So should we not consider ourselves blessed who do not have many possessions as it is easier for us to follow Jesus as Jesus Himself says? If Jesus Himself says in the gospel it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven, why would we, if we really want to get into heaven, and I think all of us do, even want to be rich? Why would we want a harder road to heaven? Is not the road hard enough for us? Perhaps we have little because we are so loved? Remeber the widow who put all she had into the poor box? Can you think of a more rich act of faith? And might it be a little easier for you to put all that you have into the poor box if it is only $10 rather than if it is $10M. Isn't it, although still a tremendous sacrifice, just a little bit easier when we don't have all that much to give anyway in the way of material wealth if God asks us to give it all up? Aren't you already predisposed and trained in how to survive on faith and very little else if you are already very poor? And isn't your faith built even more when you see what God can do with your life when you offer it entirely up to Him holding nothing back?
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