Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

In other years: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop (- 107)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 13:12-14 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days

Mass: Is 53:10-11; Resp Ps 33; Heb 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-45

May your kindness, Lord, be upon us.

JESUS, MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

It can't be said that James and John, the sons of Zebedee in today's Gospel lacked boldness. They went straight to Jesus and didn't mince words: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you" (Mk 10:35). What do you wish me to do for you? (Mk 10:36), asked Jesus, calmly and with patience as I picture the scene. Essentially, James and John wanted primacy of place, one to sit at the Teacher's right, and the other at His left. Although not intended by Saint Benedict, one commentary on this exchange between James and John, and Jesus, could be provided by Benedict in Ch 72 of the Holy Rule, where he addresses the Good Zeal of Monks. 

Saint Benedict allows one kind of competition in the monastery. Benedict turns to Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rm 12:10), supporting with greatest patience one another's weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else" (RB 72:4-7). At the same time, however, we have to "evaluate our heart's real intentions," as Pope Francis put it in today's Angelus Address, and ask ourselves, "Why am I carrying out this work, this responsibility? To offer service, or rather to be recognised, praised and to receive compliments?" Real service requires humility and self-sacrifice. There will be suffering involved. We look to Jesus, the Teacher, who tells us: 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 to many (Mk 10:43-44).

We turn to Our Lady, as Pope Francis did at the conclusion of his Angelus Address: "And let us pray to the Madonna: she - even though she was the greatest - did not seek to rise up, but was the humble servant of the Lord, and is completely immersed in our service to help us encounter Jesus."

We go forth, then, and "confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help" (Heb 4:16). 

Let none of you take a merely natural attitude toward neighbor, but love one another continually in Jesus Christ.

(Saint Ignatius of Antioch)

SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Some of my favorites, and the colors too, strawflowers from our still thriving garden of delights.

© Gertrude Feick 2021