A serious scandal in the life of a Christian is indifference to the cries of those who suffer in this world.

 I trusted in your love, Lord. My heart rejoices in your help, and may I sing to you for the good you have done for me! (Ps 12:6)

A serious scandal in the life of a Christian is indifference to the cries of those who suffer in this world. Like salt, which gives flavor to food, so must the follower of Jesus be, called to act without ceasing in order to improve society. Let us seek in the Word and in the Eucharist the strength to create and cultivate fraternity.

First Reading: James 5:1-6

Reading from the letter of Saint James – 1And now, you rich people, weep and groan, because of the misfortunes that are about to fall upon you. 2Your wealth is rotting, and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver are rusty, and their rust will be a testimony against you and will devour your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasures in the last days. 4See, the wages of the workers who mowed your fields, which you failed to pay, are crying out, and the cry of the workers has reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You lived luxuriously on earth, giving in to the good life, feeding your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6You condemned the righteous and murdered him; he cannot resist you. - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 48(49)

Happy are the humble in spirit / because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

1. This is the end of the one who waits foolishly, / the end of those who rejoice in their lot; / they are a flock gathered to the cemetery, / and death itself is the shepherd who pastures them. – R.

2. They are pushed and slide into the abyss. † Soon his body and his countenance will be destroyed, / and among the dead they will establish their home. / God, however, will save me from the hands of death / and he will take me into his hands. – R.

3. Do not worry when a man becomes rich / and increases the opulence of his house; / because, when he dies, he will take nothing with him, / nor will his prestige be able to accompany him. – R.

4. He congratulated himself while he was alive: / everyone applauds you, it's okay, that's life! / But he goes to his parents, / who will never see the light again. – R.

Gospel: Mark 9,41-50

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Accept the Word of God not as a human word, / but as a message from God, which it truly is! (1Ts 2,13) ​​– R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark – At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: 41 “Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink, because you belong to Christ, will not go without receiving his reward. 42And if anyone offends one of these little ones who believe, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck. 43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life without one hand than, having both, to go to hell, to the fire that never goes out.(44) 45If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life without one foot than, having both, to be thrown into hell. 47If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out! It is better to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, 48‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’. 49For they will all be salted by fire. 50Salt is a good thing. But if the salt becomes tasteless, how will you restore its seasoning? So have salt in yourselves and live at peace with one another.” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

To scandalize means to cause one to stumble and fall. The scandal exists when, in the community, someone intends to be served instead of serving; place yourself above others, as superior. The disciple of Jesus cannot cultivate ambition for power and wealth: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35). Therefore, Jesus invites everyone to nip evil in the bud. To show the seriousness of the scandal, Jesus uses strong images and symbolic language. The hand represents all activity; the foot indicates conduct, behavior; the eye refers to desire, aspiration. It is necessary to eliminate everything that diverts Christians from their adherence to the Kingdom of God. Salt, which prevented the corruption of food, is an image of fidelity to Jesus' project.

(Day by day with the Gospel 2024)