Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 12:28-34)
Jesus is now in Jerusalem where he has several encounters with the religious teachers. In today’s account, there is no animosity, it is a peaceful dialogue. The conversation raises a point which was very frequently made by the prophets of the Old Testament and by Jesus: love of God and of neighbour is of more importance than ‘holocaust and sacrifice’.
Do I seek to follow the great commandments given by God and restated by Jesus?
Do I cherish the Jewish foundations of my faith and seek to understand them?
Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God.
Let us pray for all involved in peaceful dialogue between faiths.
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 12:38 -44)
We are approaching the end of our reading of the gospel of Mark. Today’s reading provides a contrast; the self-assured scribes parading their virtue, and the humble widow offering all she had to live on. Jesus attacks the hypocrisy of those religious people who make an outward show of virtue, but whose hearts are full of greed. His words are harsh. We must remember that the gospel also tells us of good and virtuous scribes and Pharisees. Jesus observes the generosity of the widow. Almost unnoticed, she gives all she can for the upkeep of the temple of God.
Do I parade my good deeds before others in order to appear better than I am?
Am I prepared to take risks in being generous?
Let us pray for a spirit of thankfulness and generous sharing of what we have.
Let us pray that hose who are immersed in selfishness will take up the call to share with the poor.
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 13:24-32) Jesus looks to the future and talks about the things that are to come and about the end of time. He has encouraged his disciples to face wars, disasters and persecutions. There will be a ‘time of distress’ to be endured by all. People have questioned and speculated about the end of the world, and about the time of its happening. Having spoken of the signs that will precede it, Jesus gives a warning: no-one but the Father knows the time of the end. As the gospels repeatedly urge us, we are to live in readiness for the end of our lives. The final message of Jesus’ teaching in Mark’s gospel is that we should ‘Stay awake!’ We are called to live in imitation of the Son of Man, who came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for us.
Do I look forward to the gathering of all God’s people?
What have I learnt from the liturgical reading of the Gospel of Mark this year?
Let us pray for trustfulness and courage as we face life’s trials.
Let us pray for serenity and confidence in the loving kindness of God, whose plans for the world will come to completion in a way ad at a time we do not know. Fr Adrian Graffy