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Gospel Reading for May 21, 2024 – Mark 9: 30-37
RIDICULOUS
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.”
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In this world, the quest for greatness is very common, making even activities that should be just enjoyed such as the arts and sports, a CONTEST or a COMPETITION. We love to pit against each other, so we may know who is greatest. To seek to be greatest when using our gifts is RIDICULOUS because we did not create our gifts, but they were given to us by the one who created us. Moreover, there have been so many who were called great or called themselves great, but where are they now? Six feet below the ground or in a vault at a columbarium? This kind of greatness is as fleeting as life on earth is.
In Matthew 18: 4, Jesus says, “The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child.” In God’s Kingdom, greatness is measured by the ability to serve others with humility. Quite the opposite of how the world measures it – making the first last, and the last first. When we come to think about it, this is TRUE GREATNESS because it is no easy feat to serve others with humility.
While in this world, a person who considers him/herself great, thinks he/she is above everyone, therefore does not share his/her greatness which is his/hers alone, when we are great in God’s Kingdom, we share in his greatness that’s why we become worthy of living with him who is the GREATEST, forever!
Nothing and no one can be greater than you, O Lord!
