MEDITATION OF THE WEEK
True greatness
Gospel Mark 9,30-37.
Preceding this second prediction by Jesus that he will suffer, die and rise again, Mark narrates the story of Transfiguration and the healing of an epileptic demoniac in which we get a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity and his miraculous powers. He and his disciples make their way through Galilee, on the first stage of his final journey to Jerusalem. He doesn’t want any distractions or interruptions because he is imparting to his disciples the teaching that he will suffer and die. He is not very successful because they fail to understand and are afraid to seek clarification. We’re not told why, but it is interesting that each time they are presented with a new aspect or shown a new insight into Jesus’ person or ministry they become afraid. (4,41; 6,50; 10,32). We can only guess that in this case, like Peter, previously, (8,32), they just don’t see why being the Messiah should involve suffering and death for Jesus. Their fear to ask questions could simply be that they prefer not to know anything about his future suffering. Perhaps they hope that by ignoring it it will simply go away.When they get to Capernaum and the house (probably Peter’s as in 1,29) where they are staying, Jesus asks them what they were arguing about on the way. Too embarrassed to admit it, they were arguing about which of them was the greatest – a topic alien to Jesus’ thinking and concerns at that time, or at any time. They were on a different wavelength and certainly not tuned in to what he was saying to them. They have their own priorities and are deaf to his message – a common human reaction to the gospel today, as well.Sitting down, the posture of a teacher (eg the Sermon on the Mount, Mt 5,1), he calls the twelve to him, to teach them by word and deed. Those who ambition to be first must put themselves last of all and be servant of all. Then the gesture of taking a child – a symbol of trust, dependence and littleness/humility – essential attitudes for his disciples, reinforces Jesus’ message and example of humility and service.In Aramaic, the language Jesus would be speaking, the word for child and servant is the same. To welcome a child /servant is to welcome Jesus and not just him but also his Father who sent him to be our saviour/servant.Here we meet the most characteristic attitudes and values of Jesus’ teaching – the beauty and dignity of humble, loving, service of the weakest and lowest in the community – the anti-thesis of the disciples’ value system and that of the world today. True greatness in the eyes of Jesus has nothing to do with having power or influence over people but with humble service of all and especially the humblestA child would have few rights and low status at the time of Jesus and represented the “little people” of that society – the powerless, the weak, the vulnerable, the dependent, the poor in spirit, the humble before God. To welcome one of these is to welcome Jesus. Jesus is in disguise in the poor of our time too, as St Teresa of Kalkota knew so well. To welcome him we need to have clean hands, untainted by the values of the world, and warm hearts, disinterested in position, privilege, or power.Fr Geoff O’Grady
Gospel Mark 9,30-37.
Preceding this second prediction by Jesus that he will suffer, die and rise again, Mark narrates the story of Transfiguration and the healing of an epileptic demoniac in which we get a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity and his miraculous powers. He and his disciples make their way through Galilee, on the first stage of his final journey to Jerusalem. He doesn’t want any distractions or interruptions because he is imparting to his disciples the teaching that he will suffer and die. He is not very successful because they fail to understand and are afraid to seek clarification. We’re not told why, but it is interesting that each time they are presented with a new aspect or shown a new insight into Jesus’ person or ministry they become afraid. (4,41; 6,50; 10,32). We can only guess that in this case, like Peter, previously, (8,32), they just don’t see why being the Messiah should involve suffering and death for Jesus. Their fear to ask questions could simply be that they prefer not to know anything about his future suffering. Perhaps they hope that by ignoring it it will simply go away.When they get to Capernaum and the house (probably Peter’s as in 1,29) where they are staying, Jesus asks them what they were arguing about on the way. Too embarrassed to admit it, they were arguing about which of them was the greatest – a topic alien to Jesus’ thinking and concerns at that time, or at any time. They were on a different wavelength and certainly not tuned in to what he was saying to them. They have their own priorities and are deaf to his message – a common human reaction to the gospel today, as well.Sitting down, the posture of a teacher (eg the Sermon on the Mount, Mt 5,1), he calls the twelve to him, to teach them by word and deed. Those who ambition to be first must put themselves last of all and be servant of all. Then the gesture of taking a child – a symbol of trust, dependence and littleness/humility – essential attitudes for his disciples, reinforces Jesus’ message and example of humility and service.In Aramaic, the language Jesus would be speaking, the word for child and servant is the same. To welcome a child /servant is to welcome Jesus and not just him but also his Father who sent him to be our saviour/servant.Here we meet the most characteristic attitudes and values of Jesus’ teaching – the beauty and dignity of humble, loving, service of the weakest and lowest in the community – the anti-thesis of the disciples’ value system and that of the world today. True greatness in the eyes of Jesus has nothing to do with having power or influence over people but with humble service of all and especially the humblestA child would have few rights and low status at the time of Jesus and represented the “little people” of that society – the powerless, the weak, the vulnerable, the dependent, the poor in spirit, the humble before God. To welcome one of these is to welcome Jesus. Jesus is in disguise in the poor of our time too, as St Teresa of Kalkota knew so well. To welcome him we need to have clean hands, untainted by the values of the world, and warm hearts, disinterested in position, privilege, or power.Fr Geoff O’Grady
