Cycle B - Year I:  

19 September 2021: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Wisdom 2:12, 17-20

Second Reading:   James 3:16--4:3

Gospel:  Please Read  Mark 9:30-37 

Greatness is service!

 TODAY's Gospel incident tells us about Jesus and disciples in journey through Galilee.  Our Lord is prophesying His betrayal and crucifixion, and this is the second time that He was telling the disciples about His Passion, death and Resurrection. (The first time is found in Mark 8:27-38.)  Jesus is predicting that He will be delivered into the hands of enemies and will be put to death.

Now Jesus is actually telling the disciples that His kingship does not consist of power and dominion but rather of humility and service. But the disciples do not understand the words about the cross because they are not capable of understanding or accepting a Messiah who becomes the servant of the brothers.  The disciples continue to dream of a glorious Messiah.

So Jesus' revelation of a suffering Messiah does not make sense to the disciples and did not fit their understanding and expectation of what the Messiah came to do.  In fact, as they were traveling the disciples were busy discussing and arguing among themselves who was the greatest among them.

Let us understand why the disciples do not really want to talk about suffering for some reasons. First, they do genuinely care for Jesus and so do not want Him to suffer at all. Second, Jesus' plan does not make sense to them at that time.  In their human thinking, they want to believe that Jesus can do much more good for the Father if He just keeps healing the sick, preaching great sermons, performing miracles and attracting large crowds.  Third, the disciples do not like this message of a suffering Messiah because it also means that they, too, might have to suffer as well to remain as Jesus' disciples.

Now, are we not like the disciples in this sense?  Because our concept of greatness is worldly dominion, wealth and power, and the desire for praise from others.  So then, what is the measure of "greatness"?

This brings us to the second point in our Gospel reflection.  Jesus sits down with the disciples and patiently explains a lesson on greatness through humility and service.  Our Lord explains that "if anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." For in God's kingdom, greatness is equated with exhibiting a heart of serving one's neighbor.  That is why, in telling the disciples about His death and Resurrection, Jesus wants to show them what it means to truly serve.

And explaining further, Jesus places a little child from the crowd in their midst to explain His point. A child is usually not given a place of great honor in society. Those who think highly of themselves would disregard children and have no use of them because of the lowly status.

So then, what can a child possible teach us about greatness?

Well, Jesus tells the disciples that in God's kingdom whoever has the heart of a child will be considered great. He means to say, whoever humbles himself and serves the "little ones" of society -- the poor, neglected, those with neither power or voice in society.

In the example of our Lord, the image of a child challenges us to re-think our notion of leadership and greatness. Jesus Himself is our model.  He came not to be served but to serve.  Our Lord lowered Himself and took on our lowly nature that He might raise us up and clothe us in His divine nature.

In sum, to follow Jesus Christ entails a radical change in our earthly notion of power that dominates, and instead follow in His footsteps of humble and truthful service to the poor and to those in need.  Let us pray that we follow the example of Jesus' humble service as we strive to become great leaders of our family, our workplace, in society, and our nation, if it so demands. Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!