Hymns for Mass – Press Here

FIRST READING (Let us condemn him to a shameful death.)

A reading from the Book of Wisdom (2:12, 17-20)

The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (54:3-4, 5, 6-8)

The Lord upholds my life. (Ps 54:6b)

O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth. (R)

For the haughty men have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. (R)

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O Lord, for its goodness. (R)

SECOND READING (The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint James (3:16-4:3)

Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Cf. 2 Thes 2:14)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (R)

GOSPEL (The Son of Man is to be handed over…Whoever wishes to be first will be the servant of all.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (9:30-37)

Jesus and his disciples 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 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.” —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

“The Way of the Wise”

           Some years ago, I read an essay about worship that stated, “The problem with much Christian worship today is not that it is too entertaining, but that it is not entertaining enough… (because) it neglects TRAGEDY. Tragedy as a form of art  highlights death, and death is central to true Christian worship. The most basic liturgical elements of faith, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, speak of death, of burial, of a covenant made in blood, and of a body broken. Even the cry “Jesus is Lord!” assumes an understanding of lordship very different than that of the world.  Christ’s lordship is established by his sacrifice upon the cross.”

          Continuing from the theme of last week’s readings that centered on the suffering servant and the prediction of the passion and death of Christ, today’s readings continue this speaking about the “just one” who is hunted down to be destroyed, and in St. James we hear of the human vices of jealousy and selfish ambition that perpetuate conflict. Our Gospel continues the instruction about the suffering of the Son of Man.

          Much of the Wisdom literature in Scripture is based on some form of the theory of retribution: good or wise behavior brings forth success; wicked or foolish behavior yields misfortune. Wisdom teaching itself is a collection of maxims or proverbs that come from human experience, each providing a short scene proving this theory. Though this tradition offers a high ideal, its teaching is realistic.

The sages and wise people of the Old Testament knew that those who choose the way of righteousness present a threat to others who are less righteous – who are evil. These evil ones place obstacles that seem insurmountable before the righteous to trip them up, to ridicule them, or to destroy them. People who try to live lives of integrity are not always appreciated. In fact, they are often made fun of, and sometimes persecuted. Their very lives can act as a rebuke of the lives of others, their goodness becomes an accusation. And we see all around us people who take delight in pushing decent, good individuals to their limits trying to show that they are no better than the rest. If they cannot corrupt good people, they try to get rid of them. Isn’t this at the very heart of the despicable “cancel culture” in social media?

          The Letter of St. James describes several situations that we all know very well. Jealousy and selfishness do indeed spawn disorder as we witness in so many current scandals. We also know that desiring the land or natural resources of other nations and dreams of hegemony often lead to war. Experience teaches us that only when we learn to take control of our inordinate, crazy passions will we experience true wisdom that is “peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy.” The ideal that St. James offers is not beyond our reach. We know from experience that certain options are placed before us, and we are free to decide to choose the path leading to peace.

          Jesus is the ultimate example for us of the victimization that we heard about in our 1^st reading. He was the righteous one par excellence. When those opposed to him were unable to undermine him and his ministry, they plotted to get rid of him. He knew it, and yet he was not deterred; he was unafraid. In his reaction, he becomes the ultimate, perfect model of how one should continue faithfully on the path of righteousness despite immense obstacles, leaving the outcome in God’s hands, as we prayed in our Psalm: “The Lord upholds my life!”

          We all try to fashion our lives and our world for ourselves and for our children and future generations so that the ideal presented by St. James of cultivating peace might become a reality.

          But life teaches us that people on whom we trusted and relied can betray us; unbridled violence locks us in a state of terror; hatred and crime make victims of whole populations in cities and nations. Goodness does not always guarantee success and happiness, and shameless behavior sometimes seems to win out. When we are caught in the midst of such perils, we might question the value of clinging to our noble standards. Once again a choice is set before us. Will we discover that our integrity is shallow? Will we give in to the temptations of the “low road”? Or will our trust in God carry us through? Will we choose the “high road” of loyal discipleship despite the cost that this may enact? Can we too CHOOSE THE CROSS?

          In the last phrases of the today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that to be a true disciple we must be willing to SERVE OTHERS. The greatest becomes the least; the first becomes the last. He insists that is in receiving and protecting the most vulnerable in society that we receive Jesus himself, and in receiving him, we receive God. THIS is the epitome of true wisdom. So the message today reminds us how important it is to keep in focus the true message of Christ – Christ who submits to the CROSS.

          For we who are disciples of the Lord, our readings today remind us of the true realities of life, realities that are both joy-filled and tragic. Parents rejoicing in the birth of a child can find words of gratitude to sing to the Lord in the psalms; but there are also psalms which allow bereaved parents to express their grief and their sorrow in words of praise to their God at the loss of a child.

          This is tragic and foolish in the eyes of some, and they may ridicule and even persecute those who follow the way of Christ, the way of the Cross. But it is the way of the wise and the fruit of such righteousness that will lead to true peace. The tragedy leads ultimately to VICTORY.

Prayers

Celebrant:  Christ our Lord predicted his saving death and resurrection. Through him, the suffering servant, let us bring our petitions to the Father of all mercies.

READER: In thanksgiving to our heavenly Father who brought us safely through the recent typhoon, and for the Lord who continues to uphold our life, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For peace and harmony between nations set against one another, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For an end to jealousy and destructive competition among members of our families, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For all our community that we work for the welfare and protection of children, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: [SMC only For LAI Ka Kuen on his 3^rd anniversary of death and for whom this Mass is offered, and] For the repose of the souls of all the departed, that they may see the Redeemer who suffered for them, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: Father of our Saviour, these prayers we bring before you express our faith in your Son, who humbled himself to die on the Cross for us, and who rose again to be our glorious Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever, (all) AMEN.