Wednesday May 29, 2024
ST PAUL VI, Pp. (Opt. Mem.)
Office: Psalter Week 4
Mass and Preface of the day or Memorial
Vestment: Green/White
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
FIRST READING
You have been ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 1 : 15-25)
Beloved: You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever.” That word is the good news which was preached to you.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 147:12-13.14-15. 19-20 (R. 12a)
R/. O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
Or: Alleluia.
O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
O Sion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you. R/.
He established peace on your borders;
he gives you your fill of finest wheat.
He sends out his word to the earth,
and swiftly runs his command. R/.
R/. O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
Or: Alleluia.
He reveals his word to Jacob;
to Israel, his decrees and judgements.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his judgements. R/.
ALLELUIA Mark 10:45
Alleluia. The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:32-45)
At that time: The disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise.” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the Ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
There is always a natural tendency to desire, among other things, to be the first, the leader, to be the head. Jesus is not against such desires. He only explains that to be the first or the head is to be a servant. The acceptable leadership position in Christianity is servant leadership. A leader is a servant, not a lord. A leader serves, does not dominate. A leader cares rather than controls. A leader honours the flock, does not demand respect. A leader leads by example, not by directives. A leader is a symbol of love, not a symbol of power. Anyone desiring to be first or to be in the lead must be willing to serve.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL IN HONOUR OF B.V.M
If one is not ready to bear the pain that comes with discipleship, he or she will never be counted among the greats in the sight of the Lord.
Our Mother Mary by saying yes to God accepted all the pain that has to come her way. She never jumped the ship when the going got tough, instead, she soaked it in and remained steadfast and today she is in heaven interceding for us. We must learn from her to accept the separation and pain that will come to us by following Jesus so that in the end we will find eternal life.
Let us pray,
Heavenly Father, give me the grace to follow you without looking back and may I stay committed to you till the end of my life as our Mother Mary did. Amen. And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Meditation: Mark 1: 10-16
