Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
Father, you challenge us to deny ourselves in order to follow you. We are not accustomed to denying ourselves often. The pop culture promotes instant gratification. Self-help experts profess self-care as the key to contentment. Financial consultants advise clients to pay themselves first. Yet, you call us to give in return for life, to deny ourselves to follow you, to set our minds on divine things rather than human things. Help us in this offertory moment to focus on you as we sacrificially give our tithes and offerings. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Mark 8:27-38
