Oct. 17 - "The Son of Man came to serve..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Pondering the Holy Word of God, listening to the Readings for this Sunday, what richness is set before us at the Table of His Word and His Body!

The USCCB website does not give Readings for Memorials occuring on Sunday, but St. Margaret Mary to whom the Sacred Heart of Jesus appeared and spoke saying: “Behold this Heart which has loved men so much and received so little in return” and St. Ignatius of Antioch who was martyred, shared in the sufferings of Christ, as we are ALL called to do! Readings for today are from 29th Sunday in Ordinary time:

Reading I ( Is 53:10-11)​

The LORD was pleased to crush Him in infirmity. If He gives His life as an offering for sin, He shall see His descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through Him. Because of His affliction He shall see the light in fullness of days; through His suffering, My Servant shall justify many, and their guilt He shall bear.​

Responsorial (Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22) - “Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You.”​

Reading II (Heb 4:14-16)​

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.​

Alleluia (Mk 10:45) - “The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”​

Gospel (Mk 10:35-45 )​

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to Him,"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered Him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to Him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."​

Come Holy Spirit - Fill us with the Fullness of Truth, Who is Jesus, – even as you filled Mary who by Your Power brought Jesus to us.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."

And isn't this often the way we pray? The bottom line in prayer for Jesus is "Thy will be done", especially when it means taking up and carrying a cross, dying to self and the inner transformation of letting go of all the fears and anxieties associated with my will.

And it is all The Way of the Cross, the Paschal Mystery tied to loving service and the sacrifices that might entail. We have so many opportunities every day to make sacrifice, to die to self, to serve and thus to be transformed.

 

[MariaChristi]

And isn't this often the way we pray? The bottom line in prayer for Jesus is "Thy will be done", especially when it means taking up and carrying a cross, dying to self and the inner transformation of letting go of all the fears and anxieties associated with my will.

And it is all The Way of the Cross, the Paschal Mystery tied to loving service and the sacrifices that might entail. We have so many opportunities every day to make sacrifice, to die to self, to serve and thus to be transformed.

Thanks so very much for your reply, Akita!
Yes, as St. Louis De Montort and other saints have told us -- the hardest battle we face is our battle against our inordinate self-love! In his treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, St. Louis wrote much about the importance of Mary in God's Plan. He quotes St. Augustine in writing of Mary as a mould in which we can pour ourselves and be transformed. If you've never read that little book I encourage you to read it.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Another point the I wonder about: God's will is sovereign and wise. Why would we seek to change it. In other words, pray that something or other turn out a certain way. Even praying that we have the grace to accept God's will for us is a matter of God's will. i am beginning to think that prayer is for our own reprogramming. The more I pray that God's will be done the more I will trust that will, regardless of what happens.

But then Jesus does tell as to ask.

 

[MariaChristi]

Another point the I wonder about: God's will is sovereign and wise. Why would we seek to change it. In other words, pray that something or other turn out a certain way. Even praying that we have the grace to accept God's will for us is a matter of God's will. i am beginning to think that prayer is for our own reprogramming. The more I pray that God's will be done the more I will trust that will, regardless of what happens.

But then Jesus does tell as to ask.

Dear Akita,

Thanks again for your thoughts. Yes, Jesus does tell us in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7 verses 7-11, in His Sermon on the Mount:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him."
​

Take some time to pray over these verses, for Jesus is telling us the Truth, always. In The Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read in Paragraph 2565:

"In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit."
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Let us pray as Our Mother Mary prayed with Great Faith and Humility -- Believing, Trusting and above all Loving!

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