Texts taken from the “Sulla Tua Parola” Daily Missal September-October 2021

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
1st week of the Psalter

FIRST READING

From the Book of Wisdom (Wis 2:12, 17-20)
[The wicked said:] “Let us beset the just one, for he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doing, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” – The word of God.

Commentary on the first reading

In this first reading, we are presented with the message that the just person, in an unjust world, must expect misunderstanding and persecution. How many people laugh at our faith? How often is our patience put to the test? But those who stubbornly refuse to see and believe in God cannot understand how much he can help. We must not think that suffering is a test from God: he knows us and has no need to test us! We are asked to walk in the direction of goodness and God’s love, and for this reason we must always ask ourselves what motivates our choices, even when we do good. Why do we do it? To those who believe, the Lord gives much more: he knows what we need and, if he does not answer us immediately, it means that he wants better things for us; he makes us wait because an unexpected gift, or one awaited for a long time, is much more welcome. We can say that in difficult moments it is as if we are close to Jesus on the cross and somehow share in his sufferings, without running away. He alone is the great model of “endurance.”

SECOND READING

From the Letter of Saint James the Apostle (Jas 3:16 – 4:3)

My brothers and sisters, where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. 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? 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. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. – The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

In this letter, James emphasizes what must be in the heart of a Christian: those who are “wise and intelligent” understand that it is not enough simply to do good works; they must be done well. It is works done well that reveal the gentleness of a heart and the wisdom that dwells within it. In our Christian communities, since they are made up of human beings, there may be jealousy, tensions, and disputes. These lead to disorder, unpleasant difficulties, and bad actions—things that should not be there but often poison our life together. These wars and tensions result from giving too much power to passions and uncontrolled desires that provoke struggles in order to obtain what they want. What is needed are free people who do not allow themselves to be subjugated by the will of those around them; people of power who serve with humility; people who sow justice amid so much injustice and mercy where love is lacking; people who place great trust in God’s power and little in their own strength. It would be beautiful to be more just men and women in our judgments and in our way of life.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 9:30-37)
At that time, Jesus and his disciples went through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. For 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 he 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.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The Gospel tells us about Jesus traveling through Galilee, but not wanting people to know, because he is occupied with forming the disciples and announcing the cross; but the disciples do not understand his words about the cross because they are unable to accept a Messiah who becomes a servant to his brothers and sisters. Jesus is a good teacher; he waits for the right moment to make them reflect—those very men who had discussed along the way who was the greatest. This is the point Jesus insists on: power must be used not to rise and dominate, but to lower oneself and serve. Often, when people do certain things according to their conscience, thinking that they are doing them for God, they discover that they are driven by the desire to be recognized, to receive credit, and to win a reward: this is worldliness, this is the spirit of the world. There are no compromises in the Gospel, and when one tries to live it through compromises, in the end one finds oneself with the worldly spirit that seeks to climb in order to dominate and be greater. Therefore, we must not negotiate with the spirit of the world, but listen to Jesus’ wise and encouraging word: be the last of all and know how to serve everyone.