In Jesus’s Name
To read this week’s readings, click here.
More Wisdom from James
How much are we comparing each other on social media? How much are we looking at our neighbors and wishing that we had what they had? James says, “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.” It’s a powerful message. He tells us not only what’s wrong, but how to right it. This message is as meaningful today as when it was written. God brings us all the things we need. We need not be jealous.
The Greatest
One of the things that has never changed in the centuries is our need to be great. We measure our success and failures in every way. How do we measure our success? Money? Job promotions? How do we measure our Church? Attendance? How much is in our collection? All of these things come into focus when reading this section in the Gospel. The disciples came from their very real world, where their success was measured by their work and their net worth. They, as we often also do, try to use the same measurement with our spirituality. Jesus is telling them (and us) that this doesn’t work. Mark 9:39 states, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” This is the secret sauce. To be great in the church is to serve. Serving others, using Gospel principles, becomes as rewarding to the giver as the receiver.
Let the Children Come to Me
Mark Chapter 9:37 states, “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.” In the context of today, this passage in Mark is very enduring and affirming to us. Modern society prioritizes children and rightly so. This was not true in Jesus’ time. Children were considered a burden until they could prove their worth. If they could not, well, they could labor, and if they couldn’t do even that, they were often neglected or cast out. It is important to note that Mark does not say the gender of the child. A person reading this in Mark’s time would want to know that, because boys were more “valuable.” To Jesus, however, this is not important.
Ministry Minute – Christian Women
The MPH Christian Women Organization meets in the Notre Dame Room at the East Site on the second Tuesday of each month between September and May. The objective of the Christian Women Organization is to unite the women of the parish in religious, educational, and social activities. The organization participates in both spiritual undertakings (such as leading the parish vigil at funerals for members of the organization) and in educational opportunities (such as having speakers at the monthly meeting). Additionally, the organization is responsible for crafts, Christmas cookies, and ham and rolls sales at the parish sites. All women of the parish are invited to join the organization by attending any of the monthly meetings, all of which are announced in advance in the parish bulletin. Contact Debbie Peterson through the contact form on mphwa.org (our parish website) to join the Christian Women.
