21 May, 2024 | Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Jas 4:1-10
Gospel Mk 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He 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 the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then 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.”
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“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.”
Reflections:
Jesus in this Gospel gives an important instruction to his disciples on service to the powerless and needy. Service to these is the very essence of discipleship who is the greatest in the eyes of the Lord.
The greatest for Jesus is the one who is willing and ready to serve and not to be served, the one who is willing and ready to humble himself amidst the temptation to host and be arrogant. The greatest are those who silently do their vocation for the Lord without expecting anything in return.
Many of us love to project power and feel that we are above all and occupy an exalted position in our work place, church or community. However, this is without importance in the eyes of the Lord. What is important for Jesus is a childlike humility and a willingness to follow him without expecting anything in return.
Activity:
Try to emulate childlike behaviour today - simplicity, kindness, patience and most of all -- love
Comments
Post a Comment