St. Philip Neri, priest

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊       

Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17

Have mercy on us,

Master, God of all, and look on us; make every nation stand in fear of you. Let them acknowledge, as we have acknowledged, that there is no God but you, Lord.  Give new signs, do fresh wonders, stretch out your hand and be glorified in your strength.

 Gather all the tribes of Jacob, give them back their inheritance as in the beginning.  Have pity, Lord, on the people known by your Name, on Israel whom you called your firstborn.  Show compassion to the holy city, to Jerusalem where you rest. Fill Zion with the fame of your wonders, and your people with your glory.

 Confirm the promises made to your people long ago and fulfill the promises made in your name.  Reward those who wait for you and fulfill the words of your prophets.  Hear the prayer of your servants, Lord; hear your priests giving Aaron’s blessing to your people.  So that all on earth may acknowledge that you are Lord and ever­lasting God.

 

Ps 79:8, 9, 11 & 13

Show us, O Lord, the light of kindness.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 10:32-45

 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead. The Twelve were anxious and those who followed were afraid. Once more Jesus took the Twelve aside to tell them what was to happen to him, “You see we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law.

They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the foreigners who will make fun of him, spit on him, scourge him and finally kill him; but three days later he will rise.”  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Master, we want you to grant us what we are going to ask of you.” And he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered, “Grant us to sit one at your right and one at your left when you come in your glory.”

 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized in the way I am baptized?” They answered, “We can.” And Jesus told them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized in the way I am baptized. But to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.”

 On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John; Jesus then called them to him and said, “As you know, the so-called rulers of thenations act as tyrants and their great ones oppress them. But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your ser­vant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all. Think of the Son of Man who has not come to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.”

    

 Gospel Reflection：

 Jesus is going near the place of sacrifice. Jerusalem is where God will bear His heart to the world. Meanwhile, the Twelve and others who follow are apprehensive. They can't understand how their master could be so calm despite the impending doom. However, it did not dampen the ambition of some of them.

James and John come forward with their request for self-promotion. It is in contrast to their Master’s willingness to sacrifice Himself without regard for the self. This provokes a heated debate among the Twelve. This argument shadowed the soon-to-be crucifixion of their Lord and Teacher. Ambition always blurs that which is more important.