Jesus, our way to peace!
september 22, 2024 | 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Wisdom 2:12,17-20; Psalm 54; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37
Worldly wisdom, the way to chaos
Today’s liturgy challenges our world's definition of greatness and success. St. James says:
“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source of your pleasures that wage war on your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:1-2).
We often think that success is getting whatever we want out of life. Such understanding directly implies doing whatever this takes to satisfy our self-ambitions of getting the pleasure, the money, the power, the position we want. This is worldliness, which is false wisdom, promising to give us the desires of our hearts and filing them with envy and greed and selfish ambitions. This leads to dissatisfaction and immediately we learn to constantly covet what others have that we don't. For the Apostle James, the result of this false way of life based on worldliness is family crisis, evil and vile practices, battles of estates, dispute on land, civil war around the globe, individualism, everyone focusing on themselves, and working for themselves. This is the chaos and the wickedness illustrated in the first reading (Wisdom 2:12 -17-20). To succeed with worldly wisdom, it requires to hurt someone else to get what we want. The wicked plot to test the righteous man with insults and torture, challenging his faith and patience, and plan to condemn him to a disgraceful death to see if God will protect him. This way of life is harmful as opposed to the wisdom of Christ, which is a way to peace!
Divine wisdom a way of life
Opposed to the earthly and worldly wisdom, which uses pain, destruction and selfishness, today’s liturgy suggests Christ's way of life, which is love and self-sacrifice. Jesus is the suffering servant described in the first reading who is announcing his passion and death in the first part of today’s Gospel. He will give his life for the good of others. In today’s Gospel, the disciples display erathy wisdom by focusing on their personal greatness, and self-ambitions. By using the example of a little child, Christ invites Christians of all times and ages to humble servants to all (Mark 9:30-37) This is the way to true peace. To become like this parable of peace, we should let go of our selfish ambitions. They can easily lead us away from the love of God and of our neighbour. “If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
Lord, grant us true wisdom to seek Your will above our own. Help us to serve others with humility and love. Guide us to live righteously and in peace. Amen.
Living the Gospel this Week: Peaceful Living
This week the second reading from James 3:16-4:3 calls for peace and purity. It warns against jealousy and selfishness, urging us to seek peace and good deeds. St. John Paul II is teaching us that:
“There is no true peace without fairness, truth, justice, and solidarity.”.
Pray for peace, love and unity in this time of election campaign.
Come Holy Spirit and make me channel your peace!
Have a blessed Sunday and a peaceful week ahead!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac