TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

MASS READING:

A reading from the holy Gospel according Mk 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.”

REFLECTION

But they did not understand

When Janice D was told that she needed to be hospitalized because she had a severe infection, she said, “I will go home and try the oral antibiotic first and then if I am not better I will call you“.

In spite of all the warnings by the doctor that it was not a wise decision, she left the office not really understanding the consequences of her decision.

That evening when more labs came back, she and her husband were advised that if she did not go to the hospital she might die. She did not ask too many questions but quickly went to the hospital.

Procrastination was over and they immediately went. She had septicemia by that time and only intravenous antibiotics would save her. She now laughs about her original poor decision.

When we desire to do or be well, without all the sacrifice and suffering that goes with preparation, we might find out it is too late or not as easy as we thought to get there.

The apostles were afraid to ask any further questions because what He was saying did not fit into what they wanted to hear about the Messiah and so they fretted over their position in the Kingdom of God instead. They did not fully understand what they needed to do and opted not to ask.

Are we like the patient and the apostles when we opt to wait or not ask questions? Do we put off going to confession, or changing our lifestyle because we think we still have time. If we wait too long to convert or confess our sins, we might not have the opportunity to save ourselves. If we procrastinate or think we have time to wait because God will be there with His mercy, we might be surprised

Let’s not take salvation for granted. The Lord exhorts us to guard our souls with great care now.

Find out all you can to save yourself.

God bless you