REFLECTIONS TODAY
Shortly after the transfiguration event, Jesus, for the second time, predicts his passion, death, and resurrection. The Apostles seem not to pay attention; they are focused on their own interest. They begin to argue among themselves who of them is the greatest, who of them will be the leader. Later, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, will ask for a place at the “right hand and the left” of Jesus in the Kingdom of God (Mk 10:40), places closest to him.
Jesus has an important message for the Twelve: the Kingdom of God is not gained by positions of proximity to power and authority. It belongs to those who are ready to be the servant of all. The Apostles must be ready to serve the least, the weakest, and those who have no social status. In view of his passion, Jesus declares: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). That is why there should be neither competition nor favoritism within the community of believers; the great and the small alike have a place in the family of God.
Pope Francis has repeatedly denounced clericalism where being a priest is all about power and status which then leads to the clergy living double lives and abusing their position. He tells the seminarians in central Italy, “The world is thirsty for priests who are able to communicate the goodness of the Lord to those who have experienced sin and failure, for priests who are experts in humanity, for pastors willing to share the joys and labors of their brothers, for men who allow themselves to be changed by the cry of those who suffer” (10 June 2021).
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
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.