February 26, 2019

Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

After leaving that place, they made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they did not answer, because they had been arguing about who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child, placed him in their midst, and putting his arms around him he said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me, but the One who sent me.”

Reflection:
“If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.”
How strange for Jesus that he must spend so much time among his disciples, realizing that there are lessons they will only understand in the future: after his enemies have abused and tortured his body, after they have hammered nails through his hands and feet and left him to die, after God has demonstrated through his resurrection that there is a power greater than death. He could tell them all this, and he does, but it goes in one ear and out the other. All they can see is the excitement of the crowds, the miracles, their Master’s skill in deflecting trick questions. Surely, they believe, all this is leading up to something wonderful!—as indeed it is, though not as they envision. Instead, they spend their time“arguing about who was the greatest”!
Meanwhile, Jesus bides his time, knowing certain lessons will have to wait. The disciples want a share of his “glory.” How could they bear to comprehend that the price of this will be a share of his passion? Jesus knows, and so he makes his lonely way toward Jerusalem. As for what the disciples know—that will only come on the other side of an empty tomb.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019