Gospel Reading for September 22, 2024 – Mark 9: 30-37
COMPETITION
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. 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.”
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The disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying about his being handed over to men, will be killed and would rise after three days. How could they when they were so occupied knowing who among them was the greatest.
When we are so full of ourselves, counting our achievements and successes, we will miss the most important things in life. Life will be a COMPETITION with others, and when our time’s up we will find ourselves not having accomplished anything of real importance in life.
Lord, give us the grace to TRULY LIVE!
