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Reflection by Joan Micah, St Brendan's Church, Lakes Entrance.
First Reading: Wisdom 2: 12. 17-20
In this first reading we have today’s equivalent of ganging up on someone who actually sets the standard for how we should live our life. The life of a virtuous person is to be admired, not pulled to pieces out of jealousy.
Second Reading: James 3: 16. 4:3
The second reading again reminds us that ‘where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind’. Another prompt to us that the worst of human nature will often surface if we are not focused on serving God. We are told to ask, and we shall receive, and yet we must be mindful of what we pray for or our prayers will go unanswered. Then can begin the vicious circle of asking ourselves why should we pray because God doesn’t answer our prayers. We must be assured that God hears all our prayers offered with a sincere heart and not a selfish one.
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples have travelled on foot through Galilee onto Capernaum. What / how / where do we journey on our road to the promise of eternal life?
Jesus, as he often did, has taken his disciples off by themselves, away from the crowds. He clearly had something important to impart. But they were too busy arguing amongst themselves as to who was the best. The disciples are talking about greatness but at this point in time, have clearly missed the greatness of Jesus. Jesus was telling them about his impending persecution, death, and more importantly, the fact that three days after that he would rise again. Clearly, they didn’t understand and for some reason were too afraid to ask. When we hear of a loved one’s death or poor diagnosis and prognosis, we can often scarcely believe it ourselves. It is too far beyond comprehension, so sometimes more mundane things come out of our mouths.
In today’s techno times, it reminds me of when we have something important to impart, but the person who should be listening attentively, instead has their eyes glued on a mobile phone screen or has their headphones on, blocking out all noise. How hurtful it feels to us. One can imagine that Jesus was less than impressed himself.
However, Jesus doesn’t give up on his disciples that he has chosen, and once again he uses a small child as an example to all saying, ‘whoever receives this child in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me, but the One who sent me’.
Jesus, instead of being angry is being a patient teacher. He makes them see that love, not pride or self-service, but service to others is the way to God. Jesus teaches us that we are called to love one another and serve one another, not proclaim our own self-importance. And that is what we are called to do, each and every day – to serve God through serving others.
