In the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time, the first readings shift to meditations from the Book of Sirach on wisdom and on the mysterious Wisdom that is God, spoken in gentle but firm parlance of a parent passing on advice to a child, especially one going through transitions in growth or into adulthood. In the Gospel, Jesus reveals to his friends and the crowds about what it means to be fully human, which is to embrace the joy of emptying oneself of the pretenses of status caused by well-meaning but distracting ambition.

Here are the readings for Monday, February 24 from the Book of Sirach and from the Gospel of Mark.

(Painting above of “Sophia (Divine Wisdom)” by Mary Plaster)

Read page 2 of the Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers.

Read the biography of Br. John Mahoney, CFX.

(Above photo of Brother John Mahoney, CFX-Xaverian Brothers)

1. Jesus asked his disciples to minister to those in need of healing. Why or how was their faith lacking so that they failed? Consider when you have tried do something, earnestly, but in your heart did not believe you could do it? What was the source of your disbelief?
2. Read page 2 of the Fundamental Principles, the Gospel, and the biography of Brother John together. How did Brother John internalize and then share his belief through actions and interactions?
3. Take some time to contemplate the words from the Book of Sirach. How does developing wisdom include appreciating what we don’t know as much as acquiring what we do know?