God, Give Me Strength!
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 2:12, 17–20 / Psalm 54:6b / James 3:16 — 4:3 / Mark 9:30–37
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Reflecting on the Word
By Dr. Karla J. Bellinger
He stares at the ground. A spider creeps toward his sandal and then scurries away. This morning in the dark, his chest is heavy. There is so much more that he wants for them, but they don’t get it. The bickering, the hard-heartedness, the self-absorption—it weighs him down.
Images flow across his mind: his disciples striving, competing, “Who is the greatest?” Wanting his favor. Wanting to look good. Wanting to be the best. His brain is tired. They just don’t understand. His spirit is low. What more can he do? It feels as though all of human history has been burdened by this kind of hardness of heart, this continual “no” to an orientation toward goodness. He sees that this mission to bring abundance and light—it is not going to end well. He told his friends that yesterday for the first time. They were not listening. Is this world worth pouring out his life for? Is it worth the cost?
A smell of bread floats through the air. Someone is up before the dawn. Someone has the courage to start this day anew, no matter what yesterday brought. The aroma brings him back to childhood: the bread his mother baked, the joy on Joseph’s face as they broke the warm loaves together at the family table.
He remembers yesterday’s touch of the little boy’s fingers on his forearm. The child had smiled at him while the adults were arguing. The Father must still trust in the human race: God keeps creating children, starting anew, believing once again. The memory of the child’s innocence gives him courage. He can give his life for this child. He will give his life for this child.
The Bread of Life raises his chin from his hand and stands. It is a new day, to be lived for God alone.
Consider/Discuss
- Discouraged. Disheartened. Bent low. Do you ever have mornings like that? Or days like that? What little things or memories does God give you that get you moving, pick you up, give you courage, and keep you going?
- One of the great slave spiritual hymns has the refrain, “I ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more.” What kind of sadness does God feel when seeing our human hard-heartedness? What is one thing that I can do differently today to help create a world that doesn’t “grieve the Lord no more”?
Living and Praying with the Word
Lord, I know that you gave me feet. But they aren’t moving this morning. I know that you gave me a brain. But it’s not awake yet. I know that you gave me a heart. I can feel it beating. There are days like this one when it feels as though nothing is happening within me. I don’t even feel that I can pray. But I know that you love me today, too. Maybe you had days like that as well? Whatever I’ve got, I hand it to you. It’s not much, but it’s me. Here, Lord, here it is.