Ordinary Weekday/ Bernardine of Siena, Priest, Religious, Missionary
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Alleluia: First Thessalonians 2: 13
Gospel: Mark 9: 41-50
First Reading: Sirach 5: 1-8
1 Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.
2 Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart:
3 And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.
4 Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder.
5 Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin:
6 And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the multitude of my sins.
7 For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh upon sinners.
8 Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.
2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Alleluia: First Thessalonians 2: 13
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
13 Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 9: 41-50
41 For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ: amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.
42 And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
43 And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
45 And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
47 And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire: and every victim shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good. But if the salt became unsavoury; wherewith will you season it? Have salt in you, and have peace among you.
Reflection
God’s word confronts the false securities we easily build: possessions, personal strength, and the presumption that sin can be postponed because God is merciful. His mercy is real, yet it is meant to lead us to conversion, not to excuse another day of refusal. The blessed person in the psalm is rooted like a tree beside running water because the word of God has become the source of life. Hope rests in the Lord, not in self-confidence.
Jesus speaks with striking urgency about whatever causes sin or harms “these little ones.” His language about the hand, foot, and eye calls for decisive repentance: anything that leads us away from God or makes faith harder for another must be taken seriously and surrendered. At the same time, even a simple cup of water given in Christ’s name is precious to God. Our discipleship is found in both courageous renunciation and quiet love. Receiving God’s word truly means allowing it to purify us, preserve goodness in us like salt, and bring peace into the way we live with others.
Prayer
Merciful God, plant my life beside the living waters of your word. Deliver me from trusting in possessions, strength, or the presumption that I can delay conversion. Give me honesty to recognize whatever leads me into sin or harms another, and courage to remove it from my life. Keep your word alive in me as salt that preserves goodness and brings peace. Teach me to value small acts of love done in Jesus’ name, trusting that nothing offered to him is forgotten. Make my heart attentive, humble, and ready to return to you today. Amen.
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