Gospel – Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and 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 the 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 Catechism of the Catholic Church
554 From the day Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Master “began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things… and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”…
649 As for the Son, he effects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power. Jesus announces that the Son of man will have to suffer much, die, and then rise. Elsewhere he affirms explicitly: “I lay down my life, that I may take it again…. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”“We believe that Jesus died and rose again.”
2235 Those who exercise authority should do so as a service. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”The exercise of authority is measured morally in terms of its divine origin, its reasonable nature and its specific object. No one can command or establish what is contrary to the dignity of persons and the natural law.
From “The Great Crusade of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CM-118:6, 99:2)
6) I lived doing good; I died blasphemed. I came back to life glorious, and I waited until the third day to do so, that they might truly believe that I had died and truly come back to life.
2) I was inspired by this intention and I informed them of how those words of David would be carried out to the letter. I was not alone at that hour which preceded My triumph. I was with the One who sent Me to you so that I felt all His influence, and therefore, the impulse that He gave to My Humanity was powerful.
From “The Great Crusade of Salvation” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CS-68:1)
1) Man must make himself like the smallest one, if he wants to imitate Me. Who is the smallest One? The smallest One is He, who being the greatest of all, has become Man. And who is the greatest One? All of you know it. For this reason whoever wants to imitate Me must liken himself to Me.
Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina. Pay special attention to the italicized underlined sections. This Sunday it is asked, What kind of soil will you be for the word of God? We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.
Tim Francis prepared this educational program to help you increase your faith and love for the Holy Trinity and our Blessed Mother. His website is http://YouShallBelieve.com
