29th Sunday In Ordinary Time
18 October 2009
First reading Isaiah 53:10-11
The Lord has been pleased to crush his servant with suffering.
If he offers his life in atonement,
he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life
and through him what the Lord wishes will be done.
His soul’s anguish over,
he shall see the light and be content.
By his sufferings shall my servant justify many,
taking their faults on himself.
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 32:4-5,18-20,22
Second reading Hebrews 4:14-16
Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.
Gospel Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. ‘Master,’ they said to him ‘we want you to do us a favour.’ He said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptised you shall be baptised, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’
When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
Reflection
By Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento
The Gospel is very much timely for the 2010 Philippine Elections. I personally think that a good president should be a good citizen first, much as a great leader begins as a humble servant. I found a poem about how a servant leader should be –
Strong enough to be weak
Successful enough to fail
Busy enough to make time
Wise enough to say "I don't know"
Serious enough to laugh
Rich enough to be poor
Right enough to say "I'm wrong"
Compassionate enough to discipline
Mature enough to be childlike
Important enough to be last
Planned enough to be spontaneous
Controlled enough to be flexible
Free enough to endure captivity
Knowledgeable enough to ask questions
Loving enough to be angry
Great enough to be anonymous
Responsible enough to play
Assured enough to be rejected
Victorious enough to lose
Industrious enough to relax
Leading enough to serve
(Poem by Brewer - as cited by Hansel, in Holy Sweat, Dallas Texas, Word, 1987, p29)
I really pray for a better Philippines, and I am pretty sure that we all are. We are badly in need of a leader who will shepherd us to the light. Our country has been in the dumps for quite a long time now, and we need a president who is not easily blinded by the perks of his position, but rather someone who has the heart to serve.
Prayer
Mother Mary,
May we never forget how you interceded for our country for countless times. Continue praying for us. We trust that the Philippines has a special place in your heart. Lead us to Jesus, and may the Holy Spirit enlighten us as we elect a new leader who will help us have hope for a better nation. Amen.
Hampas-Palayok
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us what you feel...