The greatest in the kingdom

Today's Reflections

The greatest in the kingdom 

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Mk 9:30-37

³⁰[Jesus and his disciples] began a journey through Galilee, but he 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. Jesus makes a second prediction of his passion. The disciples do not understand what Jesus is saying; they are afraid to ask him. Instead, they turn to a more interesting pastime: arguing who among them is the greatest.

Jesus takes this opportunity to tell the disciples about the kingdom. Certainly he wants them to have a place at his side. After all, he has himself constituted the Twelve, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. But one does not merit a place in the kingdom by considering oneself as above others. Rather, one must put oneself in the lowest position and serve all.

Jesus takes a child to illustrate his message. Children have absolutely no claim on status. They depend on grownups for protection and support. Children only receive—and are thankful for—the love and protection of adults.

Jesus tells us that we cannot enter the kingdom unless we turn and become like children. We do not have to earn the right to enter the kingdom. We receive it as a gift, not as a reward for any position of “closeness” to Jesus.

Rather than asking ourselves

if we are important to others,

we should look into our hearts

and determine if others,

especially the needy and the powerless,

are important to us.