THE CATHOLIC REFLECTION Today's Mass Readings & Gospel Reflection, Tuesdayy, February 25, 2025
Today's Catholic Mass Readings & Gospel Reflection - Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Reading 1: Sirach 2:1-11 Resp: Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 Gospel: Mark 9:30-37 Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 342 Reflection : This Gospel passage reminds me of the humility and selflessness that Jesus calls us to live by. As He walked with His disciples, teaching them about His coming suffering, they missed the weight of His words. Instead of grasping the sacrifice Jesus was about to make, they were caught up in arguments about status and greatness. Yet, Jesus responds not with frustration but with gentle correction. He flips the world’s definition of greatness upside down: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” True greatness, in Jesus' eyes, is not about power or recognition but about humility and service. It’s about putting others before ourselves, loving without expecting anything in return, and caring for the most vulnerable — symbolized by the child He placed in their midst. The child represents innocence, dependence, and humility. By embracing the child, Jesus shows that receiving and caring for those who can offer nothing in return is what it truly means to welcome Him. And in welcoming Him, we welcome God Himself. Prayer : Prayer for Humility and a Servant’s Heart Lord Jesus, You came not to be served but to serve, showing us that true greatness is found in humility and love. Teach me to let go of my pride, my desire for recognition, and my need to be first. Help me to embrace a heart like Yours — one that seeks the good of others before myself, one that finds joy in caring for the vulnerable and forgotten. May I see Your face in those around me, especially in those who are most in need of love and compassion. When I’m tempted to seek status or control, remind me of the child You placed in the midst of Your disciples. Teach me to welcome others with the same tenderness and grace that You show to me every day. Give me the courage to serve without expectation, to love without limits, and to trust that in humbling myself, I will draw closer to You. Amen. 🌿✨
