Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection July 25, 2024
Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time
25th July 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Brethren: We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Psalm 126:1-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 (R. see 5)
R/. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 20:20-28
At that time: The mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 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 your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: The greatness of a follower is not in doing extraordinary things but in surrendering totally even the ordinary things. It is not winning the laurels of the world but winning the heart of the Master
1. We celebrate today the feast of St James, one of the Twelve Apostles, a son of Zebedee and the brother of John the apostle, He is also known as James the Great in order to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Alphaeus and the brother of Jesus (James the Just). He is considered to be the first apostle martyred.
2. The gospel passage of the day may present him as a self-seeker, interested in power and position, through the recommendation by his mother. We need not blame him for this spirit of worldliness. It may be understandable to aspire for some honour and privilege especially when one follows a new master whom they do not understand fully.
3. But what is important is how he makes a transition, a journey from inadequate and worldly motives to perfect and godly motives. He gets groomed as a perfect disciple in the company of Jesus. He grows into the perfect mould and stature of a worthy disciple of Christ. This is in perfect tune with the direction of both the readings.
4. He becomes that clay jar mentioned by St Paul in the first reading. He becomes the container and the carrier of the immense treasure of God’s grace. He is also quite humble being aware that all power belongs to God while weakness pertains to us as humans.
5. Unceasingly and progressively he allows the Lord to form and transform him. Thereby he would be purified from all the traces of worldliness and be filled with the spirit of the Lord. Such a spirit is marked by becoming a servant who obeys and serves just as the master did. This is in contrast to the spirit of the world that wants to be a boss who dominates over others and demands to be served by all.
6. Such spirit of the Lord is willing and prompt to “drink the cup” of suffering for the sake of the Lord. This is in perfect symphony with the master, and quite in line with St Paul in the first reading. This is to be “afflicted in every way but not crushed or perplexed”, “always carrying the death of Jesus in his body”. This is why he joyfully embraced martyrdom, so that “death is at work in us, but life in others”.
Practice: St James, the apostle was on the Lord’s own mission of bringing people closer to God. He persevered even to the point of death. All this was possible only because he had a passionate love for the Lord.
