TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Also Read: Mass Readings for 17 October 2021
First Reading: Isaiah 53: 10-11
The righteous one, my servant shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (11)
Christ made us his offspring and bore our iniquities. Therefore we are the free, children of God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
(5) The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfastness of the Lord.
The Lord created all things in justice and the earth rejoices daily in HIM. May we stop and listen to HIS praise by nature every morning. Amen!
Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. (15)
Christ is our Shepherd and Leader, does not just lay out a moral code of conduct for us, as Christians. He participated in every aspect of life, the way we are going through it, even today! Every test of faith, flesh, mind, soul, and spirit we fight daily; HE has already passed through! Hence, we have a Leader who not only understands our pain but has shown us the way to overcome this world.
Being God incarnate in human flesh, he subdued every temptation that came against HIM! It was His daily communion and alone time with God the Father, that saw him through those days.
May we try to emulate our One and Only True Leader in all our activities of daily life! Amen!
Gospel: Mark 10: 35-45
James and John came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (35)
It is the boldness of James and John that strikes me here today! This boldness would come from a relationship similar to that of children with their parents. Just like little children would not hesitate in asking anything from their mother or father; a similar bond seems to be reflected in this conversation with their Lord and Master!
“But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” (40)
Jesus replies here, yet again, with an unmatched humility! The Son of God could surely make his own choices, but HE didn’t! The Lord of His Kingdom functioned from a state of humility!
“And whoever wishes to be first among you, must be slave of all.” (44)
Thus, setting out the code of conduct under His Kingship, Christ makes humility the core value for his disciples!
“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (45)
Jesus Christ fulfills Is.53:11 in this proclamation! HE has been saving many and continues to save us today! May we have a bond with Him, like that of James’ and John’s! He encourages us today to approach him in boldness, for our every desire! He sympathizes with us in all our weaknesses (of mind, soul, flesh, and spirit) for he has walked this path before us. He knows our human nature, so calls us to find rest in HIM! (Matt. 11:28) We are then refreshed by his cool, quiet pools of saving grace (Ps.23). We are called to dust off our old selves, pick up the reins and saddle up for another victorious march!
For, our War has already been Won by Our Master, we need to realign our dueling strategies in faith and boldness! Amen!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
