All that you have done to us, Lord, you have done in true justice, because we have sinned against you and have not kept your commandments;

 All that you have done to us, Lord, you have done in true justice, because we have sinned against you and have not kept your commandments; but give glory to your name and deal with us according to the greatness of your mercy (Dn 3:31, 29s, 43, 42).

Gathered in the name of Christ, we want to welcome the prophetic and sovereign power of the Spirit. He leads us to overcome the sectarian mentality and invites us to be welcoming to the poor and despised, removing from our lives everything that could harm the dignity of people and the journey of the community. Let us celebrate the weekly Passover of the Lord on this day of the Bible, the Word that guides us and brings joy to our hearts.

First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29

Reading from the Book of Numbers – In those days, 25the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. He took some of the spirit that Moses had and gave it to the seventy elders. When the spirit rested on them, they began to prophesy, but they did not continue. 26But two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit rested on both of them, who were listed but had not gone into the tent, and they were prophesying in the camp. 27A young man ran and told Moses that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. 28Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide since his youth, said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” 29Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” – The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 18(19)

The law of the Lord God is perfect, bringing joy to the heart.

1. The law of the Lord God is perfect, / comforting to the soul! / The testimony of the Lord is sure, / wisdom to the humble. – R.

2. The fear of the Lord is pure, / unchanging forever. / The judgments of the Lord are right / and just. – R.

3. And your servant, taught by them, / strives to keep them. / But who can perceive his faults? / Forgive the ones I do not see! – R.

4. And keep your servant from pride: / let it not rule over me! / So I will be kept pure / from the most wicked crimes. – R.

Second Reading: James 5,1-6

A reading from the letter of Saint James – 1And now, you rich men, weep and wail because of the misfortunes that are about to come upon you. 2Your wealth is rotting, and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped 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 have lived luxuriously on earth, giving yourself over to good living, fattening your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6You have condemned the righteous and murdered him; he cannot stand against you. – The Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Hallelujah, alleluia, alleluia.

Your word is truth, guiding and giving strength; / in truth, sanctify your people, O Lord! (John 17:17) – R.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark – At that time, 38John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. But we told him not to do so, because he does not follow us.” 39Jesus said to him, “Do not tell him not to do so, for no one performs a miracle in my name and then speaks ill of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41Truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. 42And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life without one hand than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. 45If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Jesus gives instructions on the requirements of the Kingdom that he is establishing. First of all, the Kingdom is not a closed sect, exclusive to a privileged few. On the contrary, it is open to all peoples of the entire world. Whoever frees in the name of Jesus is an ally of Jesus. To be of Christ is, in some way, to be in tune with his project of freedom and life for all. Being an open and universal reality, the Kingdom is not a space for oppression. On the contrary, it must be the concrete expression of the practice of justice and fraternity. To scandalize is to want to be greater than others in the community; It is to create obstacles in the Christian walk of our brothers and sisters. It is to make them waver in their faith. Hence Jesus’ harsh rebuke to anyone who scandalizes “one of these little ones who believe.” This evil must be nipped in the bud.