First Reading
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
Second Reading
James 3:16-4:3
Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Gospel Cycle Cycle B
Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
None of us likes to be treated poorly. Rarely do we sense that our very is in peril. At times we know that others have set themselves against us. What do we do when we find ourselves badly treated and with others against us?
In the Gospel today, Jesus tells His followers today that He Himself will treated badly and even put to death. His followers seem not to listen at all. Instead they are discussing who will be the greatest among them.
The contract between Jesus and His followers is enormous. Yet we ourselves are often not concerned at all that Christ has died for us. Instead we are like the followers of Jesus. We are concerned about the small things of our own lives and about how we can be better off in this world.
The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, is not a prophecy but rather a deep understanding of human nature. There is something broken within us humans and we can be unhappy when a person is too good. The goodness of the other person makes our lack of goodness look even worse. So we don’t believe in the goodness of the other person. We test the goodness of the other, hoping that it is not real.
The Letter of James continues to instruct us: the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. We are not to be discouraged by our brokenness. We are to recognize our reality as broken people and continue to seek peace and seek to live with virtue.
Just as Jesus recognized that he would be treated badly and put to death, we recognize that to be His followers, we will suffer. This suffering will come from others but also from our own efforts to be faithful. When we encounter our own brokenness, we begin the spiritual combat which will allow the Spirit of Jesus to transform us into His image.
Today Jesus invites us to walk the path that He walked in this life. We are invited to embrace suffering for the sake of the Kingdom, as the price of transfiguration, as the means of living as He lived. Let us trust Him and do as He asks.