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Reading 1: Genesis 2:18-24
Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-6
Reading 2: Hebrews 2:9-11
Gospel: Mark 10:2-16
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100321.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Welcome for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and together we’re going to break open the Word!
Today’s first reading from Genesis gets right to the heart of our understanding of the human person. God presents all of creation to Adam, but nothing can be Adam’s equal. Nothing can think like Adam or talk like Adam. Nothing can help and encourage Adam – offer hope on those difficult days or share in Adam’s joy. So, God takes a rib from Adam and forms the woman.
This reading in no way implies that women are somehow less than equal to men. Eve is the same as Adam. That’s why Adam proclaims, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh…” (Genesis 2:23). Finally, Adam has an equal who completes Adam. They are equal and yet different.
Funny how we can take a difference and manipulate it for our own benefit. Why do we do that? Maybe it’s pride or jealousy, envy or desire. But these vices can lead us far off the path. Instead of helping each other get to heaven, we can exploit or abuse each other for our own gain.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tries to correct our understanding. All of those ambitious and selfish thoughts cannot save us. If we truly want to be saved – if we truly want to experience the Kingdom of God, then we need to approach life with the innocence of a child (Mark 10:15). We need to look upon this created world and our relationships with a sense of awe and wonder, and not with a thought about how I might best profit from it.
How do we do that? That leads us to homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following question.
How can I look at my relationships and the world around me as a gift rather than a source of profit?
I think doing our homework will help us be the intentional disciples we are called to be! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word! Peace!
Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.
References: 1. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. Kindle. 2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle. 3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm: 1. Satan’s power: 407 2. Becoming a child: 526, 2785 3. Jesus’ love for us: 609 4. Jesus’ atoning death: 615, 1992 5. Jesus tasted death: 624 6. Laying on hands: 699 7. Marriage and fidelity: 1601-17, 1638-54, 2360-2400 8. Fidelity, a fruit of the Spirit: 1832 9. The fidelity of the baptized: 2044, 2147, 2156, 2223, 2787 10. Divorce: 2331-6 11. The gift of children: 2373-9
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100321.cfm
Lectionary: 140
Reading 1
Genesis 2:18-24
The LORD God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a suitable partner for him.”
So the LORD God formed out of the ground
various wild animals and various birds of the air,
and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;
whatever the man called each of them would be its name.
The man gave names to all the cattle,
all the birds of the air, and all wild animals;
but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,
and while he was asleep,
he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib
that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said:
“This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called ‘woman, ‘
for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.”
That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one flesh.
Responsorial
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
R. (cf. 5) May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
May you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Reading 2
Hebrews 2:9-11
Brothers and sisters:
He “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels, “
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated
all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”
Alleluia
1 John 4:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If we love one another, God remains in us
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”
They replied,
“Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her.”
But Jesus told them,
“Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate.”
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
“Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.”
Then he embraced them and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
OR:
The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”
They replied,
“Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her.”
But Jesus told them,
“Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate.”
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”