"If anyone wishes to be first . . . be the servant of all"
Sunday Word: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/092318.cfm
Mark 9: 30 - 37
Humility is not often a
virtue easily applied. It does not necessarily come naturally. 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. t 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.
With adoring crowds all around to hear your statements or to
see you, your name used in positive ways or your face recognizable wherever you
go, how can you keep a sense of true perspective? I believe one place we
priests find humility challenge us is among our own families! They love us,
yes, but we are to them simply the brother; another child of our same parents.
They know us well and relate very differently, more grounded actually, than
others.
Yet, 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 St. Mother
Teresa or our own Pope Francis. By their example they embody an image of
humility. And we know many others in our
families or friends or parishioners who do the same.
This Sunday our Gospel is a continuation of Jesus teaching his
disciples about the full meaning of his ministry and its ultimate purpose: “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. To be killed and to rise?
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 from Peter to Jesus (paraphrase): “NO!” Peter exclaims. May you be
spared such a fate. This doesn't fit
with our agenda! That dying and rising line won’t work; you need to speak with
power and force! Recall how forcefully Jesus returned Peter’s misconception
about his ultimate fate and purpose – “Get
behind me Satan!”
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!
In a self-sacrificing act of divine humility, Jesus submitted
to earthly authority, despite its own corruption, in order to carry out God’s
greater plan. That theme is made even more stark as he embraces 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. In my Kingdom,
Jesus would remind them, you must be dependent and trusting like a child. That was a powerful, anti-cultural
illustration, shocking in its starkness frankly, of Jesus’ mind.
So, here he chooses a child. 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? In light of our present day deep concerns about the safety and respect of children, this Gospel provides a timely image of God's concern for the vulnerable and innocent.
That Kingdom has a deep spiritual dimension so as Jesus often
did, he choose an example in the child 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 put his entire
flock at risk but the Good Shepherd values each individually.
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.
The disciples 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. Fr. James Martin, SJ puts it well: "Humility is one of the gateways to the spiritual life. It is also one of the most necessary attributes for any kind of life in prayer."
Graciously raise up, O Lord,
those you renew with this Sacrament,
that we may come to possess your redemption
both in mystery and in the manner of our life.
Through Christ our Lord
(Prayer after Communion)
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