Gospel Reflection for Sunday September 19th : 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time By Br Michael Moore OMI
Loving and Serving each other
The gospel today begins with the same stark warning that Jesus spoke of in last Sunday’s gospel; he will suffer, die, but he will rise three days later. He clearly puts this reality before his followers then, and each of us, today. They don’t seem to have heard a word he has said. While Jesus is telling them this, they are arguing amongst themselves about which of them is the greatest, the best and the most important. Jesus hears their conversation and asks them directly; ‘What are you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent; perhaps they were embarrassed to tell him the truth. He sat down and clearly told them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ He knew what they were arguing about. To illustrate his point, Jesus took a child in arms and said to his followers, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ A child at the time of Jesus were not seen as important; they had no real worth They were seen only terms of how hard they could work and what they could earn for others.
Those with him would have been known this all too well. In pointing to a child as an example to his followers, they would have been shocked if not a little disappointed. Jesus not only asks them to welcome this little child, but he also challenges them to become like the child. What Jesus said to them, he says also to each of us; following him is not about power, popularity or prestige. It is about love, humility, service, care and concern of others, especially those who are most in need. As he said to them ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ As followers of Jesus today, this is how we are to put our faith into practice, by loving and serving others.
On another occasion Jesus also said, ‘You know that rulers have power over others and that leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it is to be with you.’ If you want to be great, you must be servants of each other.’ (Matt. 20.24). Jesus came to serve, not to be served. To prove this point, Jesus took the place of a slave and washed his friend’s feet. He did this as a radical example of love and service and asked them and asks us to do the same. His command to his friends is a real, radical and relevant to us today, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord and rightly; so I am. If I then, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you and example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’
You and I are called to wash each other’s feet; we are asked to put other’s needs before our own as we love and serve them. We do this every day in countless small ways as we look after each other in homes, families, in our neighbourhood and in our parish community.
Br Michael Moore OMI
Today, take a moment to thank God for all those who love and serve you each day. Ask for the courage and humility to love and serve others as Jesus has shown us.
– Br Michael Moore OMI
| Gospel | Mark 9:30-37 © |
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