Today, 23rd of March, we celebrate
Saint Turibius of Mongrovejo
First Reading: Sir 4: 11-19
Wisdom breathes life into her children
and admonishes those who seek her.
He who loves her loves life;
those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord.
He who holds her fast inherits glory;
wherever he dwells, the Lord bestows blessings.
Those who serve her serve the Holy One;
those who love her the Lord loves.
He who obeys her judges nations;
he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.
If one trusts her, he will possess her;
his descendants too will inherit her.
She walks with him as a stranger
and at first she puts him to the test;
Fear and dread she brings upon him
and tries him with her discipline
until she try him by her laws and trust his soul.
Then she comes back to bring him happiness
and reveal her secrets to them
and she will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice.
But if he fails her, she will abandon him
and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175
R./ O Lord, great peace have they who love your law..
Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.
R./ O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I keep your precepts and your decrees,
for all my ways are before you.
R./ O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
My lips pour forth your praise,
because you teach me your statutes.
R./ O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I long for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight.
R./ O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.
R./ O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Gospel Reading: Mark 9:38-40
John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us."
Good works are not copyrighted!
The disciples were fixed on an idea: We alone can do good, because we alone possess the truth, and those who do not belong to us cannot possess the truth and therefore, can do no good!
When the disciples saw someone who was not part of their group casting out demons in the name of Jesus, they thought it was not right. In today’s terms, we call it intellectual property rights or copyright issues! But Jesus corrected them and asked them. He wanted them to understand that everyone can do good, not just those who were part of their group. Jesus broadened their horizons and showed them that anyone, even those who are not part of their group, can do good things.
“The Lord, in his image, created us all.” This universal truth is the foundation of our shared humanity. If “he does good, let all of us keep this commandment in our heart: do good and do not do evil. This commandment is for everyone, without exception.”
The belief that only a select few can do good is a dangerous form of closed-mindedness. Iterects barriers, leading to conflict and even violence in the name of God. The truth is, the Lord’s redemption extends to all, not just to Catholics, but to everyone, including atheists. It is the blood of Christ that unites us all as children of God, breaking down the walls of exclusivity and fostering a broader understanding of goodness.
It is good for us to reflect on this episode and to perform a small examination of conscience. There is a sort of fear of ‘competition’ — and this is bad: the fear of competition —, that someone may steal “my market” and “my followers”, and we are thus unable to appreciate the good that others do: it is not good because he is ‘not one of us’, they say. It is a form of self-referentiality.
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Opening Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
you let the sun shine and the rain come down
on good and bad alike.
Keep us from classifying people
and issuing condemnations lightly.
May we rather learn from your Son
to appreciate the good done by anyone,
whether one of us in the Church or not,
and to be united with anyone
who seeks truth, peace, and justice.
For these are the works of the Holy Spirit
of you, our Father, and of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
The search for wisdom, says Ben Sirach, must be one of the main tasks of a person, for this search is a sign that one loves life. But God is a part of this search, for God blesses those who seek wisdom.
Gospel Introduction
"He or she is not one of us" becomes easily an excuse for denying or belittling the good done by others, especially if they are not Catholics. Remember how before Vatican II the Church spoke of Protestants, communists, and socialists... Even today, there is a certain hesitancy to recognize the good done by people "who do not belong." And Vatican II asked us not to think merely of our inner Church interests, for it gave us the pastoral document on The Church in the Modern World. Jesus appreciated whatever good done by anyone, whether belonging to the group or not.
General Intercessions
– For the Church we love, that it may bring forgiveness and love to all, welcome all, care for all, inspire all with the gentle power of the Holy Spirit, we pray:
– For lawmakers, that the Spirit may prompt them to make good laws that are fair to all, we pray:
– For outcasts and victims of discrimination, that our communities may accept them fully and make our love so spontaneous and warm that they feel accepted, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
your Son ate with sinners and tax collectors
while the devout people of his time
blamed both him and the weak.
Accept us at his table and teach us not to exclude anyone
with a "holier-than-you" attitude.
Do not allow us to condemn
those who are different or act differently,
but make us accept them as you accept us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
you have given us the privilege
to hear the word of your Son and to share his table,
not because we are better than others
but simply because you are good.
Do not allow us to become hard
or to look down with pride on others
but keep reminding us
that we are in constant need of conversion
through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Blessing
We should learn to appreciate whatever good is done by whatever person. The Spirit inspires many people to do good in a variety of ways. Good for them! May Almighty God bless them and you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
