Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, February 21, 2017.
1st Reading: Sirach 2:1-11
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience,cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein.You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,turn not away lest you fall. You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost. You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love him, and your hearts will be enlightened. Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?
has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed? Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth. The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Ps: 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
R/.Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Gospel: Mark 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.” The gospel of the Lord.
TUESDAY REFLECTIONS:
The Apostles “remained silent” because they were immediately filled with feelings of guilt. They were having a foolish argument about who was the greatest among them and when Jesus asked them what they were discussing, they were ashamed to admit it. They knew their conversation was foolishness. Jesus goes on to offer the beautiful teaching on true humility. But let’s take a look at the lesson we learn from the Apostles’ experience of guilt. Is guilt a bad thing? Is it undesirable to feel guilt? Is “Catholic guilt” the result of overly oppressive moral teachings? Sadly, in our world today it seems that most forms of guilt are slowly dissipating and many people are becoming more obstinate in their violations of God’s law with a “guilt free” conscience. But the truth is that guilt is often a good thing! It’s good when the guilt you feel is a result of a clear understanding of your moral failure.
Guilt, in this case, is a sign that your conscience is working. Of course there are those who are scrupulous and feel excessive guilt when they should feel only a little. Or they feel guilt as a result of a confused conscience rather than as the result of a sin they have committed. This is not healthy and must be remedied. However, in our day and age, a lack of healthy guilt is often the more common problem. Perhaps the lesson we should take from this encounter Jesus had with His Apostles is that it is good and healthy to experience guilt in our lives when it is clear that we have done something wrong. And it is good and healthy to be attentive to this guilt as an invitation to change our ways. After Jesus gently reproved the Apostles, He then gently taught them the meaning of true greatness. This is also the approach He will take with us when we humbly experience guilt for our sins.
Pray with me: Lord, I offer to You my conscience. I know that my conscience is a sanctuary, a holy place, where I am called to meet You and hear Your voice. May my conscience always be open to the full truth of Your Gospel so that I may be guided by You each and every day. Jesus, I trust in You that You alone will heal our sick brethren and set them free. May the souls of our faithful departed brethren rest in perfect peace, amen.
Sourced by Wiezman Eleanya