Today’s
Gospel Text:
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would
not have any one know it; 31 for he was teaching his
disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the
hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days
he will rise." 32 But they did not
understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. 33 And they came to
Caper'na-um; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you
discussing on the way?" 34 But they were silent; for
on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called
the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be
last of all and servant of all." 36 And
he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms,
he said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one
such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but
him who sent me." Mark 9:30-37
Reflection: If
only our thoughts were set open to the public gaze, we would either live in
embarrassing shame or go to the other extreme of rebellious justification.
In
the gospel text we have the disciples discussing who was the greatest, when
Jesus is giving them a serious talk about his impending death at the hands of men.Such is our sinful nature:
We
could be at a funeral and our thoughts could be on apportioning of the property
and wealth of the deceased or on self gratification.
We
could be next to a sick person and yet more concerned when to feed ourselves
rather than wait in that emergency situation.
We
could be at a beach or a picnic and yet could be else where in voyeuristic
zones.
We could be on chat at a distance or on a phone and yet in the bedroom.
Is
it the music that is attractive or the singer or is it the story line of the
movie that draws us to it or the actors that attract subliminally?.
Alas
the sinful human nature, that is so caught up in itself. Sometimes
when these thoughts do get manifest either because of our lack of self control
or on account of our sense of morality or because our body language betrays us
then we do get into all sorts of justifications.
I
may shock you further with this statement; Woe to those humans who lead the sincere followers of Christ to such
rebelliousness through condemnation, finger pointing and judgment. Would it not be
better on their part, like a good Christian, to instead seek to help them out of
their situation.
Jesus,
though he knew what they were discussing, did hold on to an attitude of
judgment and condemnation but rather, in all patience continued to teach them
what is right and good, so as to empower them as future servants of the kingdom.
He knew that they will soon give up on such self-centered ways and instead be instruments of his grace and mercy to others.
Prayer: Lord,
help me not to look at the personal flaws and failings of others but to rather
be an instrument of help and strength to them.
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
