Gospel Reading: Mark 9: 30-37
30After leaving the mountain Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, 31because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, “The son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him. 33They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. 35So he sat down called the Twelve to him and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” 36He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms around him, and said to them, 37“Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Historical Situation. Mark 9: 30-37
We continue with semi-continuous reading as we move from Chapter 8 to Chapter 9 in Mark’s Gospel. Verse 30 begins with a very significant piece of information –“after leaving the mountain”- this was the mountain of Transfiguration (Mount Tabor) where Jesus had a powerful experience of God’s love confirming him in his identity and mission. Prior to this he was struggling inwardly with the prospect of going to Jerusalem. After the mountain experience he was resolute that this was what was being asked of him. Filled with a great sense of peace and purpose he is ready to embark on the journey to Jerusalem, to bring his message to the heart of the Jewish world and to confront the establishment, the elders, chief priests and scribes.
Where did this happen? Jesus has begun a journey “made their way through Galilee” that will eventually take him to Jerusalem. In today’s gospel he is in Capernaum, in the house of Simon Peter. We are told that “He sat down and called the disciples to him” – a hint that something important was about to follow.
When did this happen? Jesus had now come to a place of inner peace, courage and resolution within himself. He was ready to leave the relative safety of Galilee and move to the hostile environment in Jerusalem where he knew he would meet rejection, suffering and crucifixion. He knew that the time had come to give more attention and energy to his close disciples, to instruct them, to give them his full attention and prepare them for what lay ahead. Because the time was now short he wanted to ensure that they were clear about the essentials of his message and ready to continue his mission after his death.
Who was there? Jesus – determined, courageous and ready to go to Jerusalem. The Disciples – confused and bewildered. Their understanding and expectations of Jesus as Messiah king were dashed. They did not know what to make of his statement about suffering and death and were afraid. A little child – a child in his own right but also symbolising the nobodies in Jewish society, those who didn’t count.
What happened? Jesus was determined that the twelve would be aware of and prepared for what lay ahead – the frightening prospect of suffering, rejection and death- the inevitable consequence of continuing to say the things he was saying and doing the things he was doing, and yet he was convinced that the Father’s love would be victorious and have the last word. As he anticipated what was to come perhaps he could have made his own those words in today’s first reading from the book of Wisdom. “The godless say to themselves …let us test him with cruelty and with torture, and thus explore this gentleness of his and put his endurance to the proof. Let us condemn him to a shameful death since he will be looked after – we have his word for it”. Clearly the disciples were not able to face this issue and resorted to day-dreaming!
Back at the house he challenged them about what he had overheard them talking about on the road but they were too embarrassed and said nothing. He sat them down because he wanted to speak seriously to them. His way was not the way to worldly glory, prestige and power but rather it was a way marked by humility…”to be last of all and servant of all…” In his wisdom Jesus knew that only the truly humble are inwardly free enough to confront injustice and evil at any cost – they have nothing to lose and are not seeking any glory for themselves. Then, by placing the child in the centre of the room and putting his arms around him” he gave another insight into the power of humility- Only a humble person knows how to truly welcome “the little ones”. The person preoccupied with status and prestige inevitably treats others in a condescending way, as inferior. While the humble person values them and treat them with respect, as equals. Welcoming others in this way is an experience of God’s presence breaking into our world.
GUIDELINES:
Remember a time when you had come to a place of acceptance and inner peace in relation to a difficult personal situation – redundancy, rejection, injustice, personal tragedy, frightening diagnosis – and you realised that you would have to try gently and patiently to bring others round too. “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men…”
Identify with the disciples who were afraid to face the serious, painful issues on hand, indeed you wanted to talk about anything else but this. Can you remember a time when you resisted engaging in any kind of conversation with a loved one who was facing the prospect of suffering? “But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask…”
Can you remember a time, when like the disciples- as individuals, church or society – you were concerned and seduced by the quest for worldly success, status and prestige believing that these would satisfy the human heart? “Arguing which of them was the greatest”.
Remember down-to-earth, concrete expressions of humble service which generated a real sense of fulfilment, meaning and purpose in your life. “If anyone wants to be first he must make himself last of all and servant of all.”
Can you remember experiences in life that brought home to you that it takes a strong heart, a humble heart to challenge the status quo and the powers that be? Why? Because the truly humble person is not in pursuit of power, status and reputation and is not afraid to lose them? “The virtuous man, since he annoys us and opposes our way of life, reproaches us…and accuses us…” (First reading)
Remember humble people who know how to welcome the “little ones” in our society – the homeless, refugees, the vulnerable and marginalised- and who treat them with respect recognising their dignity, beauty and goodness, relating to them as equals and as precious gifts of God? “Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes not me, but the one who sent me”.
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