Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homily on October 20  

Cycle B

First Reading Isaiah 53:10-11

Through his suffering, the servant of Yahweh will justify many.

Responsorial Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22A

prayer of praise for God’s mercy

Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus is the high priest who sympathizes with our weakness.

Gospel Reading Mark 10:35-45

Jesus teaches that those who wish to be great must be the servant of all.

"My servant shall justify many"

On this Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the readings invite us to reflect on the profound themes of suffering, service, and discipleship. The prophet Isaiah introduces us to the “Suffering Servant”, whose pain brings salvation to many. In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded of Jesus as our compassionate high priest, who understands our struggles. Finally, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus teaches His disciples that true greatness lies in serving others, not in seeking power or privilege.

The first reading from the prophet Isaiah (Is 53:10-11) is part of the second Isaiah (Is 45-55), written during the final period of the Babylonian exile. Isaiah 53 is part of the fourth and final “Servant Song” in Deutero-Isaiah, which describes a mysterious figure called the “Suffering Servant” (vv. 10-11). Three key ideas stand out:

1. Suffering as part of God’s will: “It was YHWH’s good pleasure to crush him with pain” (Is 53:10). This suffering is not random, but a purposeful act that brings about something greater—salvation for many. While we cannot say that all suffering in the world is God’s will, we must understand these “literal words” in their context, referring to the “Suffering Servant”.

2. Justification through suffering: The servant “shall make many righteous” (Is 53:11). His suffering is redemptive as he bears the sins of others, bringing righteousness to those for whom he suffers.

3. Vindication and exaltation: Though the servant suffers, he is eventually vindicated and exalted. “He will see his offspring and prolong his life” (Is 53:10) suggests that after suffering comes life, restoration, and divine favor.

We can ask ourselves: What is God telling me through the sufferings in my life? How am I facing these challenges? This reading invites us to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and the sufferings he endured for our sake.

In response, we echo the words of the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22): “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you”, because His word is faithful, and His gaze is on those who revere Him and trust in His kindness.

In the Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 4:14-16), we are encouraged to hold fast to our confession of faith and confidently approach Jesus, our great high priest. He can sympathize with our weaknesses because He “was tested in every way, yet without sin”. When we approach His throne of grace, we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The key theme of this Sunday’s Gospel from Mark (Mk 10:35-45) is SERVICE—an essential characteristic of discipleship. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, imagined a different kind of glory and kingdom. They were thinking of earthly power and privilege, apparently, without sacrifice or suffering. When they asked Jesus for the highest places next to Him, His response was, “You do not know what you are asking”. Furthermore, those places are reserved for those for whom they have been prepared.

Jesus makes it clear that seeking positions of power or earthly privileges is not the way of His disciples (“[…] it shall not be so among you”): “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all”. In short, Jesus is exhorting us to serve like Him[1], “for the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”. This idea of SERVICE in the Gospel connects to the image of the “SUFFERING SERVANT” in the first reading. The image of the suffering servant reflects the consequence of drinking the same cup as Jesus. His question, 'Can you drink the cup that I drink?' means that while we may receive many blessings in life, we will also face sufferings as we strive to follow the right path.

This week, we are invited to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. How much of ourselves do we give in service—in our families, churches, communities, schools, and workplaces? What are our intentions? Are we serving for recognition, for personal gain, or for genuine love and dedication to others?

[1] AGUIRRE MONASTERIO R. - RODRÍGUEZ CARMONA A., Evangelios sinópticos y Hechos de los Apóstoles, Verbo Divino, Estella (Navarra) 1992, 117.