Mk 9:33-37
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.”
In this story we hear about Jesus’ and his disciples making their way to Capernaum, and the disciples arguing with each other about who was the greatest. How would you feel, listening to that? It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t stop them in their tracks and tell them to just be quiet, that he didn’t want to hear their self-centered babbling or, give them a good talking to, to correct them. Instead, he patiently waited until they got to a house, went inside, didn’t scold them, but taught them. And he does the same for us. We spend time with Jesus, to listen to him, and learn something about what it takes to be a disciple of his.
The disciples on the road were in competition with each other to be the greatest. It seems to be human nature and even an expectation of our society for us to compete with one another. Competition itself isn’t bad, and sometimes can even help us grow but, it can get out of hand. If we compete out of jealousy, or a craving for power, seeking our own glory and prestige, it can become an obsession and make us oblivious to what God is really asking us to do, and clueless to what it really takes to be first. This is what Jesus was helping his disciples realize back then in Capernaum and he’s showing us the same thing today, what it really takes to be first.
While society might expect us to aim as much as we can to be first, Jesus requires a different approach. To be first, seek to go as low as you can go. Aspire, not to be the boss or big shot, but to be a servant and serve out of a love that is expressed with concrete actions, especially toward those who are most helpless.
Jesus picked up a child, wrapped his arms around it and said, “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.” Motivated by love, our love for Jesus, and his love for us, we receive, welcome and serve those who are powerless, marginalized, ignored and lowly so that the love Jesus has for them may reach them through us. The love we give, is the love of Jesus. Whenever we welcome and then serve someone in this way, Jesus becomes present.
I see this often when I’m at Catholic Charities in Flint. Whoever comes is received, welcomed and served to the best of the agency’s ability. They are given clothing, food, assistance with bills, assistance with housing, and a lot of other things. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is present in downtown Flint loving those who have the least.
You can do this. You already have what it takes. You are a child of God. He created you and because he loves what he created, you can trust him. Today he invites you to set aside your pride, set aside any selfish competition you have going on in your life to allow your heart to be open to receive even more of his love. He created you with special talents, gifts, and abilities in your own special way, to use to allow this love he has placed in your heart to reach others. To be first, we allow the love Jesus has placed in our hearts to touch others through serving them.
I invite you to take some time to become aware of those thigs God has given to you, and in prayer, ask how you might use what you were given to welcome and serve those most in need so that through you, Jesus will become present.
Peace,
Deacon Ken