Homily 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B I Homily 22 September 2024 Year B

Summary

The sermon for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time reflects on the contrast between false and true wisdom. It explores how worldly wisdom leads to selfishness, envy, and conflict, while true wisdom comes from God, fostering peace, mercy, and righteousness. The readings discuss the righteous suffering persecution and Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus redefines greatness as service, humility, and care for the vulnerable, symbolized by welcoming a child. True greatness is found in serving others selflessly, especially those who cannot repay us. The message calls for discernment between earthly and spiritual wisdom.

Takeaways

• 📖 The readings focus on two types of wisdom: worldly (false) and spiritual (true). Christians must learn to distinguish between the two.
• 😈 The wicked seek momentary pleasure, leading them to oppress the poor and reject the righteous, who annoy them by preaching God's truth.
• ✝️ The first reading from the Book of Wisdom is seen as a prophecy of Christ's death, describing how the righteous suffer at the hands of the wicked.
• 🗣 Gossip and slander harm the innocent, but trusting in God, despite the cost, ensures ultimate victory and salvation.
• 💡 The second reading from James condemns worldly wisdom driven by envy and selfish ambition, which leads to confusion, conflict, and broken relationships.
• 🌍 True wisdom is pure, peace-giving, gentle, and full of mercy, unlike the earthly wisdom that brings about division and malice.
• 🙏 Conflicts arise when people desire things they cannot have, but they fail to ask God, or ask with selfish intentions.
• 😨 In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples do not understand or want to confront Jesus' prophecy of his death and resurrection.
• 👑 The disciples, like many today, misunderstand greatness, equating it with power and status. Jesus reframes greatness as serving others, especially the vulnerable.
• 💞 True greatness lies in serving the least, such as children or the helpless, and showing love and compassion to those who cannot repay us.

Q & A

What are the two types of wisdom mentioned in the sermon?

The two types of wisdom discussed are spiritual (true) wisdom and worldly (false) wisdom.

How does the first reading from the book of Wisdom describe the wicked or ungodly?

The wicked are described as those who believe life is a path toward death and oblivion, and they gather enjoyment while they can. They abuse the poor for comfort and resort to violence against the righteous.

What does the righteous man symbolize in the first reading?

The righteous man is a 'child of the Lord,' whose blameless life and faith provoke the wicked. His steadfastness in God’s will causes the wicked to plot against him.

How is the first reading connected to the death of Christ?

The second chapter of Wisdom is considered a prophecy of Christ's death, with descriptions of insults, torture, and a 'shameful death' reflecting the events of the crucifixion.

What does the second reading from James highlight as the results of living by human wisdom?

Living by human wisdom leads to envy, selfish ambition, confusion, and broken relationships, which are sources of conflict and evil.

What is the difference between worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom according to the second reading?

Worldly wisdom is earthly, sensual, and demonic, leading to confusion and evil. Spiritual wisdom from God is pure, peace-giving, gentle, merciful, and without hypocrisy.

What does the Gospel of Mark describe in relation to Jesus and His disciples?

The Gospel recounts Jesus foretelling His death and resurrection, but the disciples did not understand and were afraid to ask Him questions about it.

What was the disciples' misunderstanding about greatness?

The disciples misunderstood greatness as being about power, control, and status. Jesus reframes greatness as welcoming and serving the vulnerable, symbolized by a child.

Why does Jesus use a child as a symbol in His teaching on greatness?

In that culture, a child symbolized vulnerability, powerlessness, and dependency. Jesus teaches that greatness is found in serving and caring for those who are vulnerable.

How does the sermon define true greatness?

True greatness is revealed in service to others, especially the vulnerable, the powerless, and those who cannot repay us. It is about giving love and care without expectation of return.