25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have you ever been caught arguing or gossiping and thought you were not heard, only to find out you were? My dad would line us up as kids, and we remained loyal to each other by being silent. There was fear, absolutely! Inevitably, if the guilty party did not come forward, my oldest sister would take the wrap, saving us from Dad’s punishment.
The disciples find themselves in a comparable situation in today’s gospel. Not understanding Jesus’ teaching, they are afraid to question, so they begin to argue about who was the greatest. Today, we hear great about greatness, commonly referred to as GOAT (greatest of all time), particularly in our fascination with sports figures. Jesus was not fooled; he sat them down and said: If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last and servant of all.
Saint Paul reminds us that our desire for greatness often results in acts of jealousy, putting our wants before our needs for ourselves, others, and God. I go through times where I get caught up in my wants, frustration follows, and I step back and ask myself, do I need this? Am I jealous of other’s talents, beauty, or belongings? Will my want benefit others, or am I satisfying selfish desires? The readings clearly show our need to surrender to the words and actions of Jesus. Gentleness, mercy, forgiveness, acts of kindness, and sacrifice are the greatness we seek.
When we do this for others, even our enemies, we receive Jesus, and he states: whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me. From this day forward, will you be last of all and the servant of all in Jesus’ name?
Let us pray:
O God, by your name, save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth. The Lord upholds my life. Amen.
