Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
For 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 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.”
Power makes you lose
1. No one should know about it. You know that we live in a time where there is almost no intimacy or inner life. Some even publish on social networks the food they eat! We make our life so public that it seems that everyone knows everything about us. Maybe it’s time to take a break and protect yourself a little bit, on social networks (Facebook, X, Instagram, and so on) and in your relationship with others as well. It’s not necessary or good that you tell everyone everything that is happening to you, because some may tamper with your heart.
2. The Passion of our Lord Jesus. We are close to Ash Wednesday, so it might be a good idea to start thinking about at least 5 things you are going to offer this Lent. And I’m not saying that they should be ‘wow!’, extraordinary things. No! Look for something simple, possible and concrete. For example, this Lent pray the Lord’s Prayer for someone who it’s difficult to get on with.
3. Power. We all know how power and the use of power to take advantage of others can blind us. This happens even within the Church itself. How it hurts to see brothers and sisters who are scandalized and lose their faith because of others who think they are the owners of the parish or church movement, imposing power almost as if it were a dictatorship. Parishioners seem to receive decrees rather than grace. Let’s ask God never to lose the Spirit of service and humility.
Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
