From: Mark 9:38-40
Being the Servant of All
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Commentary:
38-40. Our Lord warns the Apostles, and through them all Christians, against ex-
clusivism in the apostolate—the notion that “good is not good unless I am the one
who does it.” We must assimilate this teaching of Christ’s: good is good, even if
it is not I who do it. Cf. note on Luke 9:49-50.
[The note on Luke 9:49-50 states:
49-50. Our Lord corrects the exclusivist and intolerant attitude of the Apostles. St
Paul later learned this lesson, as we can see from what he wrote during his impri-
sonment in Rome: “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others
from good will [...]. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in
truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice” (Philippians 1:15, 18). “Rejoice,
when you see others working in good apostolic activities. And ask God to grant
them abundant grace and that they may respond to that grace. Then, you, on
your way: convince yourself that it’s the only way for you” (St. J. Escriva, “The
Way”, 965).]
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States
|
First reading |
James 4:13-17 © |
Here is the answer for those of you who talk like this: ‘Today or tomorrow, we are off to this or that town; we are going to spend a year there, trading, and make some money.’
You never know what will happen tomorrow: you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. The most you should ever say is: ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we shall still be alive to do this or that.’ But how proud and sure of yourselves you are now! Pride of this kind is always wicked. Everyone who knows what is the right thing to do and doesn’t do it commits a sin.
|
Psalm |
|
Psalm 48:2-3,6-11 © |
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Hear this, all you peoples,
give heed, all who dwell in the world,
men both low and high,
rich and poor alike!
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Why should I fear in evil days
the malice of the foes who surround me,
men who trust in their wealth,
and boast of the vastness of their riches?
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
For no man can buy his own ransom,
or pay a price to God for his life.
The ransom of his soul is beyond him.
He cannot buy life without end,
nor avoid coming to the grave.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
He knows that wise men and fools must both perish
and leave their wealth to others.
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
|
Gospel Acclamation |
Jn14:6 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me.
Alleluia!
|
Gospel |
Mark 9:38-40 © |
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’