Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
September 23, 2012:

Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20

Psalm 54: 3-6, 8

James 3: 16 - 4: 3
Mark 9: 30-37


Jesus can sometimes be soooo confusing!  Can't you imagine the apostles arching an eyebrow at each other at the end of today's Gospel?   In their time and culture, children had no status- they'd be the last ones fed, the last ones thought about, and certainly not indulged as anything special.  So why would Jesus use a child as an example of hospitality? What could a child possibly offer in return? And this whole 'first shall be last' deal? That's not the way to get ahead, Jesus!

How are we to make sense of this wisdom of God, which often seems so at odds with how we just know it all works in the world? What might it look like to be devoted to Jesus with the singleness of purpose of a faithful servant?  Is last week's image of 'losing yourself in Jesus' (like in watching a football game!) helpful at all?

• In what concrete ways do you serve another person, because of your faith?
• When have you recognized another person treated you with more kindness, respect and mercy than you felt you deserved?

The topic for this Sunday's Catechumenate is Works of Mercy.
Congratulations to Bryon and Nina whose infant daughter Lilly will be baptized this Sunday at the 9:30am Mass!