Reflection for Sunday September 23, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:30-37

Gospel: Mark 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.”

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Reflection:

A young man heard an announcement in their parish church about its need for those who would be interested to study for the priesthood. He made himself available so he went through the formation process. 

However, he had this thought in his mind that this is an opportunity for him to be popular in their community. He was already imagining that aside from being popular he would also be respected. Why? Because he would be studying for the priesthood.

While journeying to Galilee Jesus heard His disciples arguing, so Jesus’ asked them when they were in a house in Capernaum. “What were you arguing about on the way?” They were not able to answer because they were arguing who was the greatest among them.

Who is the greatest in the eyes of Jesus? The greatest for Jesus is the one who is willing to serve and not to be served. The greatest is the one who is willing to humble himself amidst the temptation to boast and be arrogant. The greatest are those who silently do their task without expecting anything in return. 

Many of us love to project power.  We feel that we are above all because we occupy an exalted position in our work or community. However, this is without importance in the eyes of Jesus what is important for Jesus is our willingness to follow Him without expecting anything in return. – Marino J. Dasmarinas