TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B

[cappie]

Hearing today’s Gospel  from St Mark, we are confronted with the story of Jesus’ disciples grappling with the question of greatness. Having just heard Jesus speak about what is referred to as the second passion prediction, they are afraid of the implications of his impending death. The version of the story in Mark tells us that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. The author of the Gospel of Matthew writes in his rendition, “They were greatly distressed.” All of this suggests that they were in a heavy state of mind indeed. Raquel S. Lettsome asserts that it’s possible the disciples were discussing ways of being in a better position within the existing structures of society rather than working to transform it. She writes, “They want to be benefactors[,] not the backs upon which others benefit. So, they begin to talk about greatness.” While we are not sure of the motivation for their conversation, we do know that Jesus enters the conversation to teach an alternative standard for measuring greatness. The Gospel tells us, “ He sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’” There are many ways to serve and be of service. What does being a servant of all look like? How do we embody being “last of all and servant of all?” Jesus gives us the answer as he continues instructing his disciples.

He further animates their imagination by calling on them to place themselves in the situation of a child. “ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘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.’ .’”

In defining greatness through this living example of a child, Jesus is providing the disciples with three valuable lessons about walking the Way of Love. First, we learn the importance of changing oneself to serve. It is not enough to remain your old self. Rather, you must change and become like a child. The parallel text in Matthew tells us, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Here, we find that Jesus’ definition of greatness requires a transformation grounded in humbleness. Not just humility, but the humbleness of a child.

 Secondly, Jesus’ invocation of the children as the example of greatness reinforces the inherent value of children and other people who are most vulnerable, least seen, and unheard. The context of Jesus’ world and ours continues to warrant valuing actual children. His embodied word to the disciples serves as a clear example of Jesus underscoring integrating actual children as full members of the community. The church must interrogate what this means for its mission of justice, peace, and renewal around addressing children’s poverty, the quality of education for all children, children’s healthcare, and their overall flourishing. What does it mean to proclaim Jesus’ good news – “ 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.” – if the church fails to meet the concrete needs of actual children?

It is in changing ourselves to be like children and embracing Jesus’ invitation to be the “last of all and servant of all” that we live into a Christ-centred greatness. Embodying a way of thinking grounded in the power of love and service provides us with the path for resisting worldly appeals centred on domination and dominion. Our times invite us to also reorient the compass of our lives, and, in doing so, reimagine our understanding of “true north” toward service.

May we integrate the words of Jesus into our lives and choose a definition of greatness centred on Christ-like service in the world.

As St James says in today’s Second Reading, we must seek wisdom from above, desiring humility, not glory, and in all things be gentle and full of mercy.