Sunday Gospel Reflection
Greatness in Humble Service (Mark 9:30-37)
The journey to Calvary has begun but the apostles have not taken to heart what Jesus said about his rejection and death so he gives less time to the large crowds and more time instructing the apostles. He repeats what we heard last Sunday: “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he said and they were afraid to ask him. This was so totally against their expectations that they could not take it in. This is a classic case of denial when the truth is unpalatable.
As they walked along, they were lagging behind Jesus, lagging not only physically but also mentally, because, among themselves they were arguing about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus had often spoken about establishing the kingdom of God. They were still thinking of a kingdom where there would be great prosperity, power and prestige, and they presumed that they would be the greatest beneficiaries. But Jesus had not come as a political or military messiah. The revolution he advocated was about a conversion of life, a revolution of mercy, compassion, and tenderness.
“If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” To bring home his message, Jesus set a little child in front of the apostles. Many creatures in the wild are able to walk from the moment of birth. But the human brain is so large and complex that it takes a long time to develop. The human child is virtually helpless for months. The famous novelist, Hemingway, said the human brain takes two years to learn how to speak and fifty years to learn how to listen!
The helpless child represented all people who need assistance. Greatness, according to Jesus, is in coming to the aid of those in any kind of need. “Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me, welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Greatness in the kingdom of God is not in having power and wealth, but in humble service.
St James, in today’s Second Reading, expands on Jesus’ teaching. “Wherever we find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done; whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something poor; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.”
May the Church be a living community of believers who are compassionate, generous, humble and helpful.
Ask yourself, “Where do I stand?”
Prayer of a Servant
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow your love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.