The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the action we are invited to undertake to participate in realizing the last becoming the first.
The reading from the Book of Sirach presents the Law and Sacrifices.
* [35:1–26] Keeping the commandments of the law and avoiding injustice constitute sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to God (vv. 1–5). Offerings also should be made to him, cheerfully and generously; these he repays sevenfold (vv. 6–13). Extortion from widows and orphans is injustice, and God will hear their cries (vv. 14–22a). Punishing the proud and the merciless and coming to the aid of the distressed, he requites everyone according to their deeds (vv. 22b–26).
* [35:3] Fine flour, together with oil and frankincense, was a prescribed offering to God; cf. Lv 2:1–3. (Sirach, CHAPTER 35 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 50 praises the Acceptable Sacrifice.
* [Psalm 50] A covenant lawsuit stating that the sacrifice God really wants is the sacrifice of praise accompanied by genuine obedience (cf. Mi 6:1–8). It begins with a theophany and the summoning of the court (Ps 50:1–6). Then in direct address God explains what is required of the faithful (Ps 50:7–15), rebukes the hypocritical worshiper (Ps 50:16–21), and concludes with a threat and a promise (Ps 50:22–23; cf. Is 1:19–20). (Psalms, PSALM 50 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus declares that the last shall be first.
l. [10:31] Mt 19:30; Lk 13:30. (Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Suzanne Braddock reflects on “many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first.” as a promise and a puzzle.
Jesus sure knows how to help us think! I don’t know why he included everything but fathers in his promise. I do understand why he included persecutions. But the first shall be last? The last, first? First and last in what way? The temptation is to jump to wealth, status, power in the “First” category…..but further thought reveals no, this is only what our society seems to value now. What about wisdom, what about kindness, what about humility? I’m sure you can name many “things of value" that aren’t “things.” (Braddock, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “The spiritual sense of leaving the family,” by Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D.
"Do not let this passage trouble you. Put it side by side with the still harder saying Jesus delivered in another place in the words, 'Whoever hates not father, and mother, and children, and his own life besides, cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:26). Note that the God of peace, who exhorts us to love our enemies, does not arbitrarily require us literally to hate or abandon those dearest to us. But if we are to love our enemies, it must be in accordance with right reason that, by analogy we should also love our nearest relatives... But insofar as one's father, or son, or brother, becomes for you a hindrance to faith or an impediment to godly life, one should then not collude with that temptation. Attend to the spiritual, rather than the fleshly, meaning of the command." (excerpt from SALVATION OF THE RICH MAN 22.13) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 10:28-31 notes that Giovanni Fausti, Kolë Shllaku, Qerim Sadiku, and Daniel Dajani were devout Catholics in Albania who were arrested for their opposition to the Communist party in the first half of the twentieth century. Along with others deemed “enemies of the state,” they were martyred on this day in 1946 and beatified by Pope Francis in 2016. Having given up everything to follow Jesus, they now have the privilege of seeing God face-to-face.
Lent begins tomorrow. It’s almost certain that sometime during this season, your attention will drift from the Lord. You may wonder if your sacrifices matter or if your prayers are being heard or if your almsgiving makes any difference. When that happens, hold onto Jesus’ promise to Peter, to the martyrs of Albania, and to you. Your faithfulness, humility, and generosity will be rewarded!
“Holy Spirit, help me to give of myself freely and without reserve!” (Meditation on Mark 10:28-31, 2025)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the exhortation in Sirach that sacrifice under the Law is a heart that gives charity and rejects evil. The passage from Mark is mistakenly connected to a Gospel of Wealth. Friar Jude recalls the poverty of Francis of Assisi who celebrated everything as he demonstrated how to participate in the Cross of Christ.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers the inherent connection between anger and grief that ultimately heals and liberates. After a lifetime of counseling and retreat work he has become convinced that most anger comes, first of all, from a place of deep sadness. Fr. Richard introduces Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III who shares how the prophets’ grief empowers them to seek justice.
We must learn to grieve prophetically, seeing our world, even at its darkest, with the spirit and energy of the prophets of the Hebrew Bible. Those ancient teachers warned that the world was out of balance and that its repair requires our help. Grieving with them, we weep sometimes, yes, but without giving in to cynicism, hatred, and violence. We mourn as we work for change.… The challenge is to remember, even in our justified hurt and anger, that answering insult with insult and harm with harm just worsens the situation for everyone. We must remember the words of Dr. King: “Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.” When we grieve prophetically, we heal ourselves and the world by looking to shape the larger forces that damaged the soul of the person who caused hurt or anger, whether minor or devastating. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
We implore the Spirit for Wisdom as we struggle with the tension between our cultural emphasis to seek the first place and the peace and well being of seeking the best for others as Jesus does.
References
Braddock, S. (2025, March 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030425.html
Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?28
Meditation on Mark 10:28-31. (2025, March 4). The Word Among Us. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/04/1218920/
Psalms, PSALM 50 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/50?5
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Honoring Our Anger and Grief. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/honoring-our-anger-and-grief/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). We Have Left Everything and Followed You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar4
Sirach, CHAPTER 35 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/35?1
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