Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 26, 2025
7th Week in Ordinary Time
26th February 2025 (Wednesday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 4:11-19
Wisdom breathes life into her children and admonishes those who seek her. He who loves her loves life; those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord. He who holds her fast inherits glory; wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings. Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the LORD loves. He who obeys her judges nations; he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers. If one trusts her, he will possess her; his descendants too will inherit her. She walks with him as a stranger and at first she puts him to the test; Fear and dread she brings upon him and tries him with her discipline until she try him by her laws and trust his soul. Then she comes back to bring him happiness and reveal her secrets to them and she will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice. But if he fails her, she will abandon him and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.
Psalm 119:165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175 (R. 165a)
R/. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/.I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 9:38-40
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Wednesday – 7th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Life is not a story of unhealthy competition but healthy cooperation and collaboration. All the more the work for God and good is a matter of working together and supporting one another
When John sees someone casting out demons, he objects to it before Jesus because he does not belong to their group. We need not blame him for jealousy. It can be a simple zeal for his master. But his reaction is quite indicative of our own attitudes of jealousy and ‘privatization’. Often in the life of many, jealousy plays havoc. They cannot tolerate any others doing good and great.
This is because they monopolize and privatize everything. They think all the good belongs to them; only they have a right; only they must possess everything or at least the major portion. The same tendency affects the spiritual ambit as well. They feel that God’s grace must be only for them.
This in turn springs from the attitude of self-centrism. ‘I’ becomes the norm and measure of everything. This is similar to what St James reproves as arrogance (James 4.13-17). It is arrogance that tries to program one’s life pushing God outside the territory of one’s life.
It is arrogance that depends too much on one’s own will and plans to ignore God’s will and plans. It is arrogance that forgets the transience and uncertainty of earthly life. It is arrogance that boasts of one’s greatness and success.
Thus, this chain of egoism, monopoly, arrogance, and jealousy leads to a lot of resentment, resistance, slander, and explicit harm against others. Therefore, we should persistently guard and fight against these evil pressures.
We must bear in mind that grace and good works are no one’s privileges or prerogatives. We have no right to resist any good in the name of allegiance. Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, is sinning. Also whoever resists the right thing, is sinning
My Practice: All our competence, talents and abilities are God’s gifts. And all these are meant for God and good. God’s work is always a collaborative project that invites all to be involved and accomplish collectively. No one has a right to block anyone doing good!
