Homily 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B I Homily 29 September 2024 Year B

Summary

This sermon focuses on collaboration and cooperation, drawing from the biblical stories of Moses sharing his burden with elders and Jesus' teachings on welcoming the vulnerable. It contrasts the humility of Moses with the dangers of wealth and pride, as highlighted in James' letter. The message emphasizes the importance of recognizing our limitations, seeking help, and working together to overcome evil, while also cautioning against the misuse of wealth and the eternal consequences of our actions.

Takeaways

• 📖 The script discusses the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, focusing on collaboration and cooperation.
• 🗣️ In the first reading from Numbers, the Israelites and Moses complain about their hardships, leading to God distributing Moses' spirit among the 70 elders to share the burden.
• 👤 Moses demonstrates humility by recognizing that God's authority over Israel is ultimate, and he is merely a steward.
• 🤝 The narrative shows the importance of decentralizing authority and the movement of the spirit within the community.
• 😔 The second reading from James condemns the rich for their abuse of wealth and warns of the consequences of neglecting the pursuit of God.
• 💰 Wealth is temporary, and judgment and eternity are ahead; thus, relying solely on wealth is foolish.
• 😡 James also criticizes the rich for withholding wages and injustices towards the marginalized, which are heard by God.
• 👶 The gospel from Mark emphasizes the importance of welcoming vulnerable and weak people, like a child, as a measure of greatness.
• ⚠️ Jesus warns of the severe consequences of causing others to stumble in their faith, suggesting that it's better to act now than suffer eternally.
• 🤔 The central portion of the gospel discusses the disciples' discontent, highlighting the importance of collaboration and not restricting God's work to a select few.
• 🙏 The message concludes with a call for humility, recognizing the need for others' help, and the necessity of cutting off personal sins to attain eternal life.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B readings?

The main theme of the readings is collaboration and cooperation.

What complaints did the Israelites and Moses have in the wilderness?

The Israelites complained about the lack of meat to eat, while Moses complained about having to lead an uncooperative group of people.

How did God respond to Moses' request for relief from his burdens?

God distributed some of Moses' spirit among the 70 elders to ensure that Moses didn't have to bear his burdens alone.

Why did Moses refuse to restrict Eldad and Medad from prophesying at the camp?

Moses recognized the moving of the spirit within the community and desired to decentralize authority, acknowledging that God's spirit could rest on anyone.

What does the narrative of Moses illustrate about his character?

The narrative illustrates Moses' humility as he realized that God was the ultimate authority over Israel, while he held the position of a steward.

What warning does the second reading from James give to Christians regarding wealth?

The reading warns Christians about the fate of those who abuse riches and the temporary nature of wealth, emphasizing the importance of judgment and eternity.

What does James condemn the rich for in relation to the workers' wages?

James condemns the rich for withholding the wages of the workers through fraudulent ways.

What is the 'sandwich construction' referred to in the Gospel extract from Mark?

The 'sandwich construction' refers to the narrative structure where the central portion of the story is surrounded by two related passages, in this case, the theme of greatness and the discontent among the disciples.

What does Jesus emphasize about welcoming the little ones in the Gospel passage?

Jesus emphasizes the importance of welcoming the little ones and warns of the consequences of acting with hostility towards them.

How does Jesus view the role of those who perform exorcisms in his name, even if they are not part of his group?

Jesus views those who perform exorcisms in his name as part of the same team fighting against evil, even if they are not part of his immediate group.

What does the scripture suggest we should do if something comes in the way of attaining eternal life?

The scripture suggests that if anything comes in the way of attaining eternal life, we should 'CUT IT OUT! QUICKLY!'