First Reading (Eccl 2,1-13)
Reading of the Book of Ecclesiasticus.
Son, if you decide to serve the Lord, remain in righteousness and fear and prepare your soul for the ordeal. Keep your heart firm and be constant, incline your ear and welcome words of intelligence, and do not be frightened at the moment of setbacks. Endure God’s delays, cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be wise in your ways. Whatever happens to you, accept it, and be constant in pain; and in the contradictions of your poor condition, be patient. For it is in fire that gold and silver are tried and, in the crucible of humiliation, men pleasing to God. Believe in God, and he will take care of you; Make your paths straight and wait for him. Keep your fear, and you will grow old in it. You who fear the Lord, count on his mercy and do not stray, lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail you. You who fear the Lord, expect good things: lasting joy and mercy. You who fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts will be enlightened. Consider, children, the past generations and see: Who trusted in the Lord and was disappointed? Who remained in his commandments and was abandoned? Who invoked him and was despised by him? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful, he forgives sins in times of trouble, and he protects all who earnestly seek him
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 9,30-37).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus and his disciples were crossing Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know this because he was teaching his disciples. And he said to them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after his death, he will rise again.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and were afraid to ask. They arrived at Capernaum. When they were at home, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” They, however, remained silent, as along the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Jesus sat down, called the twelve together and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, let him be last of all and the one who serves all!” Then he took a child, placed him in their midst, and hugging him said: “Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name is welcoming me. And whoever welcomes me is welcoming, not me, but to whom I send myself.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My brothers and sisters, it is with great joy that we gather today to meditate on the word of God, which calls us to a deep reflection on our lives and our Christian journey. Today’s readings tell us about perseverance, humility and service to others, virtues that are often challenging for us, but which are essential for following in the footsteps of Christ.
Let’s start, then, with a story that illustrates well the path we are about to take. Imagine a climber who, faced with a large mountain, decides to begin his journey. He knows that the mountain peak is high and difficult to reach. Your climb will be arduous, with moments of tiredness, difficulty and even temptation to give up. But he also knows that every step, every effort, brings him closer to the reward, which is the stunning view from the top. And, above all, he trusts that, even in the most difficult times, he will not be alone.
This upward journey is similar to our life of faith. The book of Ecclesiasticus (Eccl 2,1-13) presents us with a reflection on the experience of trial and suffering, something that we cannot avoid on our journey. The author exhorts us to “keep firm our hearts” and to “endure in patience”, for “it is the Lord who tests the righteous”. In other words, we cannot expect a life without difficulties, but we must understand that, by facing them with faith, we are being shaped for something greater.
“Son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for the ordeal”, says the book of Ecclesiasticus. This warning sounds to us like a warning, but also like an invitation to spiritual maturity. Who among us has never experienced moments of trial, anguish or doubt? But, instead of succumbing to these difficulties, the author calls us to persevere. When we look at the Scriptures, we see that the great men and women of God also faced their trials. Moses, Elijah, Paul and many others were not exempt from suffering, but they were people who chose to continue, trusting in God’s faithfulness.
There is an important lesson here: faith is not something that just happens to us when everything is going well, but it is a choice we make, especially in difficult times. When we are faced with trials, we can choose to trust or doubt. We can choose to grow or stagnate. Perseverance, as the author teaches us, is the path that makes us more like Christ.
And then, in Mark’s gospel (9:30-37), we see a scene that reveals a little more about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. The disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, and Jesus, with all his wisdom and humility, calls a child to stand among them and says: “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. ” What a powerful lesson! Greatness, according to Jesus, is not in personal achievements, power or status. God’s greatness lies in humility and service to others.
Jesus teaches us the greatness of the Kingdom of God not through authority, but through humility. He challenges us to rethink everything we understand by power and success. In the world we live in, success is often measured by wealth, status and personal achievements. However, the gospel reminds us that, in the Kingdom of God, true greatness lies in serving, in putting others above oneself, and in welcoming the youngest, the most needy.
We may ask ourselves: who are the “children” that Jesus invites us to welcome? Perhaps they are the most fragile in our society, those who have no voice, who are marginalized or forgotten. Perhaps they are those who, in the eyes of the world, have no value, but, to God, are precious. Jesus not only calls us to be humble, but also to practice mercy and care for those who need it most.
Let’s reflect for a moment: how are we living our faith? Are we seeking greatness through service to others, or are we still seeking recognition and validation from the world? Each of us is invited, today, to reflect on this. How can we be more humble in our everyday lives? How can we serve more without expecting reward or recognition? How can we welcome the “children” of our time, those who are discarded or ignored by society?
Let’s think about a time in our lives when we were called to serve, whether within our family, at church, or in the community. How can we do this more deeply and truthfully? Service to others is not just an action, but an attitude of heart. Jesus calls us to serve not just with our hands, but also with our hearts, our minds, and our spirits.
Furthermore, the perseverance that the book of Ecclesiasticus calls us to live is also essential for Christian service. Service will not always be easy, nor will it always be rewarded, but it is the true expression of Christ’s love. In many moments, when we serve others, especially those most in need, we can feel that our strength is running out. But that’s where perseverance comes into play. With each act of service, each word of support, each gesture of mercy, we are getting closer to God. We are, in fact, becoming more like Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.
My brothers and sisters, the lesson today’s Scripture offers us is challenging but hopeful. We are called to persevere through difficulties, to live humbly, and to serve others with a sincere heart. We must not allow ourselves to be carried away by the incessant search for power or recognition, but we must seek greatness in service, humility and love.
In our daily lives, where can we be most humble? How can we serve more? How can we welcome children into our midst, those who are despised or forgotten by society? These are the challenges that Jesus presents to us, and, with His grace, we can overcome them.
Let us, then, ask the Lord to grant us the Holy Spirit to live this life of humility and service. May He help us to persevere in difficulties and to recognize that, in each gesture of service, we are following in the footsteps of Christ. That, like the child that Jesus places among the disciples, we can be simple and pure in our love for others.
Lord, we praise You and thank You for calling us to live a life of humility, service and perseverance. Give us the grace to live as faithful disciples, following Your example of love and mercy. May, in every act of service, we reflect Your glory and Your goodness. Amen.
My brothers and sisters, may the peace of Christ accompany us, and may we leave this place with a heart more willing to serve and live with humility. May our lives be a living testimony of God’s love, and may, by serving others, we find true greatness in the Kingdom of God. Amen.
