Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II)
Readings at Mass
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First reading
James 5:1-6
The workers from whom you withheld the wages are crying aloud; their cries have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.
Commentary:
1. Warning to the Rich
James begins by admonishing the wealthy to weep and wail for the miseries that await them, highlighting the impending divine judgment.
2. Corrosion of Wealth
James describes the decay of wealth, emphasizing that hoarded riches will testify against their owners. This underscores the futility and temporary nature of material possessions.
3. Exploitation of Workers
James condemns the rich for withholding wages from their laborers. The cries of the oppressed workers reach God, showing His awareness and concern for social injustices.
4. Self-indulgence and Luxury
James criticizes the wealthy for their luxurious and self-indulgent lifestyles, comparing them to cattle being fattened for slaughter, indicating the moral dangers and consequences of excess.
5. Condemnation of the Innocent
The rich are accused of condemning and murdering innocent people, highlighting the extreme consequences of their greed and moral corruption, and the certainty of divine retribution.
James 5:1-6 strongly condemns the misuse of wealth and exploitation, emphasizing the temporary nature of riches, the ethical duty to treat workers fairly, the dangers of luxury, and the severe consequences of greed. It serves as a reminder of the ethical responsibilities that come with wealth and the inevitability of divine judgment.
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Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 49:14-15ab, 15cd-16, 17-18, 19-20
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
This is the way of those whose trust is folly,
the end of those contented with their lot:
Like sheep they are herded into the nether world;
death is their shepherd and the upright rule over them.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Quickly their form is consumed;
the nether world is their palace.
But God will redeem me
from the power of the nether world by receiving me.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
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Gospel Acclamation
see 1 Thessalonians 2:13
Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
Alleluia, alleluia.
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Gospel
Mark 9:41-50
You should enter into life with one hand than with two hands to go into Gehenna.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”
Commentary:
1. Reward for Kindness
Even small acts of kindness done in Jesus' name, like giving a cup of water, will be rewarded by God, emphasizing the value of serving others in faith.
2. Warning Against Leading Others to Sin
Causing believers, especially the vulnerable, to sin is a grave offense. Jesus uses the strong image of a millstone around the neck to illustrate the severe consequences.
3. The Seriousness of Sin
Jesus stresses the need for radical action to avoid sin, using hyperbolic language about cutting off body parts. This emphasizes the importance of avoiding sin and the eternal consequences of hell.
4. The Purifying Fire
Everyone will face trials and purification, likened to being "salted with fire," indicating the refining effect of hardships on believers.
5. Importance of Peace and Purity
Believers should maintain their distinctiveness and positive influence, symbolized by salt. Jesus also urges them to live in peace with each other.
Mark 9:41-50 emphasizes the value of small acts of kindness, the severe consequences of leading others to sin, the need for radical avoidance of sin, the purifying role of trials, and the importance of maintaining purity and peace within the faith community.
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