THE SON OF MAN WILL BE KILLED BY HIS ENEMIES.
BECOME LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.
"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.” (Mark 9: 30 - 37).
Sunday 22nd September 2024 in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time.
Three times on different occasions Jesus shared the critical facts of His coming Passion and Death with His closest friends. Three times the Apostles did not get it. On this occasion, they argued among themselves which of them will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
In the second Reading this Sunday from James 3: 16 - 4:3, James explained why our prayers are not answered:
"You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
We see Jesus in our key Scripture for today (Mark 9: 30 - 37) performing His core ministry. We know that Jesus feeds people. Jesus heals the sick. He casts out evil spirits. He raises the dead.
But what is the core ministry of Jesus? It is teaching people about the Kingdom of God. 40 days after His Resurrection, Jesus continues teaching about the Kingdom of God.
The core lesson we see today is the status of a little child in the Kingdom of God. God loves the simplicity and natural trusting heart of a little child. Jesus contrasts the simplicity of the little child to the shameless greed and ambition of the adult person.
Jesus wants us to become like a little child. Many saints especially St Therese of the Child Jesus was able to live out this ideal and on its basis introduced a New Way of holiness. Doing every day little acts of love to her neighbor. Trusting in God's powerful, merciful and at times mysterious Providence to protect and provide for her. St Therese of the Child Jesus is one of the 37 Doctors of the Church.
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to Your Plan.” (Cf Luke 1: 38).
Become a little child.
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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