The Greatest in the Kingdom
Mk 9:30-37
30[Jesus and his disciples] left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but [Jesus] did not wish anyone to know about it. 31He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “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.” 32But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
33They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Reflection:
If anyone wishes to be first. Who does not want to be first? It is not bad to aspire for greatness. But where does greatness lie? For the disciples, greatness is about power, wealth, and fame. For Jesus, instead, greatness is in service to the little ones. To serve is to use one’s time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of others or to help improve needy people’s lives.
To illustrate his point, Jesus places a child in the midst of the disciples. Children cannot do things by themselves. They are dependent on their parents and elders in almost everything. Greatness is attending to the needs of these little ones. And Jesus gives the assurance that whoever receives a child in Jesus’ name, receives him.
Greatness is shown in the heart rather than in the mind, in charity rather than in connections, in dedication rather than in knowledge, and in faith rather than in power.
Would Jesus consider us as his modelsof greatness, service, and humility?
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