Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

30 After leaving that place they made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know,
31 because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of man will be delivered into the power of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’
32 But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.
33 They came to Capernaum, and when he got into the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’
34 They said nothing, because on the road they had been arguing which of them was the greatest.
35 So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’
36 He then took a little child whom he set among them and embraced, and he said to them,
37 ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Reflection:

The gospel is from Mark 9:30-37. This is all about the disciples of Jesus as they fail to understand that betrayal and death awaits Jesus. They don’t think that a Messiah will die and suffer a different way.

Mark 9:30-37 always shows us that a Messiah is to suffer to save humanity from the depths of hell. This is an actual picture of how He loves His people that He is willing to die for us.

This always reminds us of the tender love of Jesus to us even if we betrayed Him. We are like the disciples who never thought that Jesus will die a painful death.

Jesus in the gospel of Mark 9:30-37 always pinpoints that He will suffer and die and will rise again in three days. His disciples fail to understand every bit of His words. They don’t understand that He will die at the hands of the people who welcomed Him. The taste of betrayal is bitter and painful.

In the present, we all lived normal lives with our families and friends. Sometimes, one of the closest will betray us and it hurts deep inside. It is what Jesus felt when we betrayed Him and sent Him to die alone.

To return the very big favor that Jesus gave us, we must now live our lives and offer penance. We have to do charity with a heart full of love. We have to offer our days and talents and skills to Him.

As I am writing this reflection, I realized one thing that I failed to do as a Catholic. I always go to church every Sunday but I never fulfilled my obligations as a believer. I am not perfect but I know in my heart what I will do to please God.

I always commit mistakes and I am a great sinner but as soon as I realized I have to be back in faith, He receives me. I am proud to say that even if I am struggling always, God did not forget to listen to my plea as always. – Clea | Helpline PH