Chriostai Notes 25th Sunday of Kingdom Time

Proverbs 2: 1-9

2
 My
 son,
if
 you
 will
 accept
my
 words,
 and
 store
 up
my
 commandments
 within
 you,
 2 making
 your
 ear
 attentive
 to
 wisdom
 and
 applying
 your
 heart
 to
 understanding;
 3 indeed, 
if 
you 
call 
out 
for
discernment
 and 
cry 
aloud 
for 
understanding;
 4 if
 you 
seek
 her
 as 
one
 seeks
 for 
silver
 and
 search 
for
 her
 as
 for
 hidden
 treasures,
 5 then 
you 
will
 understand
 the
 fear
 of
 Jehovah
 and
 find
 the
 knowledge
 of
 God—6 for
 Jehovah
 gives
 wisdom.
Out
 of
 his 
mouth
 comes
 knowledge
 and
 understanding.
 7 He
 stores
 up
 sound
 wisdom 
for 
the 
upright
 [so 
that 
it 
might 
be]
a 
shield 
for 
those
 who 
walk
 in 
integrity;
 8 so 
that
 he 
may 
guard 
the 
paths 
of 
justice 
and 
protect 
the 
way 
of 
his 
saints. 
9 Then
 you
 will 
understand
righteousness 
and 
justice and 
equity—indeed, 
every 
good 
path;

1. The game show, "Who wants to be a millionaire?" draws a large audience. Would a show called, "Who wants to be wise?" or "Who wants to be godly?" be as popular? Why or why not?

2. Is it enough to listen to and heed wise instruction? Why or why not? If there is more, what more is there?

3. How does this passage attempt to instill a desire to learn wisdom? In what way can you try to instill desire in yourself? In someone else?

4. How does the "fear of Yahweh" affect how you pursue wisdom?

5. What does the image of the "path" communicate to you? Do you usually think of your decisions in terms of choosing a path? Why? or why not?

6. What is the advantage of thinking of your decisions as choosing a "path?"

James 3:16-4:3

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. ¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

^4:1 What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? ² You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

1. Where does ambition for power and greatness lead? What does it do to a country? to a business? to a Church? Is there a way to cultivate peace?

2. St. James asks, “… where do the conflicts among you come from?” In today’s Gospel the disciples had been arguing and “discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.” Do you think their discussion could have ended in anything but conflict? Why?

1. What characteristics of wisdom would you most like to see increased in your life?

2. Why are our prayers sometimes not answered as we would like?

Gospel Reading — Mark 9:30-37

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; ³¹ for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.

³³ And they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest.

³⁵ And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

1. Jesus tells the disciples that in order to rank first they should be the servants of all. Who would you serve if you could? Anyone close to you? Where do you think your parish ranks in taking care of people in need? Where would you rank yourself?

2. According to Pope Francis, how does the person benefit by receiving a child in Jesus’ name? What does he say it does for the child or the one received?

We see how faith brings light and hope in situations of grave hardship; we observe how faith is rekindled in hearts touched by the Spirit of Jesus who said, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.’ ” …

Goodness is its own reward and draws us closer to God, who is the Supreme Good. It helps us to think like him, to see our lives in the light of his plan of love for each one of us, and enables us to delight in life’s daily joys, helping us in difficulties and in trials.

3. Why would the disciples be ashamed or afraid to tell Jesus what they were discussing?

4. In light of this passage complete the following statement, “Greatness is …

5. What point about greatness is Jesus making with the child?