First reading Isaiah 53:10-11
If he offers his life in atonement, what the Lord wishes will be done
Responsorial Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the Lord,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the Lord,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Second reading Hebrews 4:14-16
Our high priest is one who has been tempted in every way that we are
Gospel Mark 10:35-45
The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many
Becoming great
Everyone has the innate desire to excel in various aspects of life, whether it’s in education, career advancement, or competition. It’s natural to strive for greatness. In the gospel, Jesus tells the disciples, as well as us today, that if we want to be great, we should be great in service. Being a disciple of Jesus means going against the world’s oppressive standards of authority. Jesus teaches us through His testimony that He was constantly at the service of humanity. We can see how He spent long hours healing and preaching, attending to those in need, and reaching out to the vulnerable and those rejected by society. He became the servant of all.
Jesus shows us through His life what love is and how to cultivate it by not demanding too much attention for ourselves, but by focusing on others. Instead of seeking special treatment, we should help others with their needs. In this way, we will find Him close to us.
Reflective question:
How can I imitate Jesus’ attitude today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.