Feast of St. Peter Damian
Sir. 2:1-11 | Ps. 37:3-4, 18-19,27-28, 39-40 | Mk. 9:30-37
The Book of Sirach invites us to place all our trust in the Lord. Those who walk in the way of the Lord must know that it will not be without suffering. However, trust in God teaches us that God will not leave us to drown but rather come to our aid and heal us. The Gospel picks up this theme as Jesus tries to teach the apostles about His coming death and resurrection. They do not comprehend. Jesus asks them what they were discussing. The apostles are ashamed to tell Him because they were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus takes their argument and turns it upside down and tells them that to be first one must become last and vice versa. What a disappointment this must have been! The need to become last or least!? This is not what our society believes today any more than it did in Christ’s day. Yet, this is a call of Christ to us. How will you respond?
Spend some time with this Gospel today. Ask Christ to be with you and to help you to become as He desires. Ask for the grace to give up all self-advancement that does not bring you closer to Him. Trust that Jesus will accept you as you are. Listen to His Words.