October 18, 2015
Gospel: Mk 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and
said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of
you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They
answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and
the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what
you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the
baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the
baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right
or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been
prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant (1) at James and John.
Jesus summoned
(2) them and said to them, "You know that those who are
recognized as rulers over the Gentiles (3) lord it over them, and their great
ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever
wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man (4)
did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom (5)
for many."
The difficult words
(1) Indignant means upset.
(2) To summon is to call together
(3) Gentiles are those people who are not
Jewish.
(4) The Son of Man is another name for the
Messiah, Jesus.
(5) Ransom is a price that is paid to
release someone held captive.
This week’s spotlight
Mission Sunday
This Sunday, we pray for missionaries: the priests,
nuns, and laypeople who travel to far-off lands and announce the Gospel
throughout the world. We ask God that all men, women, and children come to know
the Good News and discover how much God loves them. This prayer continues
throughout the whole week. It is World Mission Week.
The dismissal
The last part of the Mass is called the
"dismissal.” After we are nourished by the word of God and the body of
Christ at Mass, we are invited to go back to our daily lives and share God’s love with those around us - our families,
friends, teachers, etc. The priest blesses the congregation in the name of the
Father; and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and then he sends us on our way
out into the world.
Reflection
God serves
The disciples are people we can relate to because they
are a lot like us. They are not perfect - like us, they have shortcomings.
James and John ask Jesus for the best places in his kingdom. When the other
disciples hear this, they are not very happy with James and John! Maybe they
would have liked to have asked Jesus the same question, but they didn’t dare!
None of the disciples really understands who Jesus is, and Jesus takes
advantage of this occasion to help them to know him better. He makes it clear
that he is not a powerful prince who is going to pass out riches to the nice
people, make the mean people perish, and grant, the wishes of his disciples!
Jesus came to earth to serve the poor, the sick, and
the children. Those who follow Jesus can’t live by the belief that the
strongest person wins. They must live by different rules: love of neighbor,
respect for others, and helping those in need. Jesus asks the same things of
us, his disciples living today: to know how to be servants of God and of each
other.
Discussion questions
1. What is mission Sunday for?
2. What is the dismissal in the mass?
3. What honors did John and James ask Jesus for?
4. What was Jesus’ answer to them?
5. What does Jesus say will make us great in God's eyes?
6. What are some things we might do to help people in need?
Praying after Communion
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart.
Thank you for being present in
this communion with the body and blood of your Son. May this sacrament give us
the strength to go forth from church today with a desire to serve others - our
parents, our friends, classmates, and teachers.
Crossword Puzzle
