Wis 2: 12,17-20
Jas 3: 16-4:3
Mk 9: 30-37
(Sunday Scriptures found with picture at right)
Humility
is not often a concept easily applied. I
often wonder how a movie star, popular sports figure, famous world leader or
influential politician, a Pope or popular Bishop or priest can maintain a sense
of humility. It is said that if you actually think you have the ability to step
in and take on the leadership of a nation, your ego must be enormous. Still, it
has to be done.
With
adoring crowds all around to hear your statements, your name used in positive
ways or your face recognizable wherever you go, how can you keep a sense of
true perspective?
What
does it mean to be truly humble?
"To know one's place in the world" is a well-supported definition. To be simple and to reach out to the small
and the great. To respect the dignity of
every person despite one's own popularity.
To sit in the lowest place among the "common" people is likely
our picture of humility. To serve the needs of others despite a position of
authority you may have creates of picture of humility. It conjures up a picture of Blessed Mother Teresa or our own Pope Francis.
This
Sunday our Gospel is a continuation of Jesus teaching his disciples about the
full meaning of his ministry and its ultimate end: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and
three days after his death he will rise." Often such contradictory
statements were spoken by Jesus. The
“Son of Man” was an ancient name for the long awaited Messiah. And the Messiah would be one to overcome any
force against him or the nation. He
would not be a man of weakness or vulnerability. So to say that he will be arrested and killed
is simply out of the question. As we
heard last Sunday: “NO!” Peter exclaims.
May you be spared such a fate.
This doesn't fit with our agenda!
Our
second reading from Wisdom foretells the suffering of the “prophet.” With an almost sarcastic tone we read: “For if the just one be the son of God, God
will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes . . . Let us condemn
him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of
him. (Wis 2: 17ff). Let’s call his bluff and challenge his claim!
Jesus submitted to earthly authority, despite its own corruption, in order to carry out God’s greater plan. A great act of divine humility. That theme is made even more stark as he chooses a child to illustrate not only the true meaning of humility but to show that of discipleship, e.g. servanthood. This in the midst of his own disciples arguing with each other over who will be the greatest in his Kingdom.
But, that Kingdom has a deep spiritual dimension so as
Jesus often did, he choose an example so shocking that one could not possibly
miss the point of his teaching. Think of the parable of the prodigal son whose
Jewish father behaved far more like a mother in compassion for his son. The
parable of the lost sheep – who would leave the flock unguarded in favor of one? No shepherd would but the Good Shepherd
values each individually.
So, here
he chooses a child. We have to put aside
our present culture which seems to do all it can to protect children, at least
those outside the womb. The regulations
around child care facilities, the laws protecting children against exploitation
and the severe punishment of those who molest are laudable.
Yet, in ancient times, children had no protections and were akin to slaves. Child mortality was epidemic and sixty percent of children died before the age of sixteen. In time of famine, children were fed last before adults. Disease and poor hygiene were the primary culprits. Children were the primary care of women; loved yes but also treated severely at times. For a band which Jesus formed to be compared to children was near insulting so what was his point?
His
point is to drive home the model of true discipleship. It isn’t a complicated one: love for others
is lived out in service not domination.
True humility means to know one’s place and the greatest pursuit of any
of us who profess faith in Christ is to illustrate that by our lives more than
our words. To choose a person of low
status in society, a child, and use that person to teach a lesson on leadership
is something that took time to sink in to the minds of his disciples.
They
were likely shocked, embarrassed, confused by Jesus statement about his
impending death and rising and to link that with this child left them, as the
Gospel tells us: “They did not understand
the saying, and they were afraid to question him.” (Mk 9: 32). To bring honor to oneself is measured by my
care for others; and not just to serve them but to do so out of love. Jesus himself is the ultimate model of what
that means.
So,
the ever present character of a Christian is once again illustrated in stark
example for us. Our gathering for Eucharist is the true encounter with Christ
whose ultimate example of service with love was offered on the cross. The giving of himself for our sake and his
real and constant presence in the Eucharist is a testimony not only of his love
for us but generates the energy we need to love one another.
The
good that we do in the name of Christ comes back to us one hundred fold. It’s just the way it works. Only then are we
truly a humble people.
O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law
upon love of you and of our neighbor,
grant that, by keeping your precepts,
we may merit to attain eternal life.
(Collect of Sunday)
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