By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp. (Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20; Psalm 54: 3-4,6 and 8; James 3: 16- 4:3; Mark 9: 30-37)
Dear friends in Christ,
The more we read about Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem, the more we understand what he expects of those who want to follow his path. Today’s Gospel reading reveals the trials and death that awaited him in Jerusalem and what he considers true leadership. While Jesus predicts his trials and death in this Gospel, it correlates with the first reading where the just man was made to suffer by those who felt disturbed by his goodness.
The just man in the first reading was put through suffering and death because he was pious, just, and trusted in God. His life was a source of reproach for the evil people. They felt uncomfortable before him just as darkness before the light. They considered him a nuisance – because he tells the truth – and went on to plan his fall so that they could master and deal with him. Their action is based on pure egoism. The godless do not care about anything good and are ready to destroy anyone who stands in their evil ways. They threaten the pious because his actions are an indictment of their behavior. So, they decided to harass the righteous, put him to the test, torture and kill him.
The Gospel tells of Jesus teaching his disciples on the road. He would not allow others to know because what he was teaching them was important to him. He already knows that his way of life will eventually lead to him being ‘delivered into the hands of men’ and that they will kill him. He understands that because he stands up for people not considered important in society, jealousy, anger, and resentment were rising against him from those who felt that his actions were making him more popular and accepted than them. In this way, Jesus resembles the pious man from the first reading who was attacked for his righteousness.
It is however interesting to note that while Jesus speaks about the fulfillment of his life’s mission, about the difficult path through death and resurrection that he still has ahead of him, his disciples were busy arguing among themselves who among them was the greatest. Who comes after Jesus in the hierarchy? That shows that they did not understand Jesus. They were simply occupied with completely different questions, very human questions because always and everywhere people compare themselves with others and see differences and contrasts.
But we must not pretend that this behavior was only a problem among Jesus’ circle of friends at that time. It occupies us all. Whether it is about possessions, power, prestige, success, or setbacks, the question: “Who is the biggest, the most intelligent, the most successful, or the most powerful?” always plays among us. No one wants to take the lower place. Everyone wants to be on top and dictate what others must do. This can destroy relationships in large groups, associations, and organizations. Marriages, friendships, and even the strongest family ties can break up as a result of unhealthy comparisons and competition. This clearly shows that we don’t often understand the scale that Jesus uses to measure true leadership, which is service. If we want to excel above others, we must do so in humble service to people, and not in an arrogant, egoistic manner.
But where does this attitude of seeking just to be above others come from? We find a possible answer in the second reading, which directly addresses the question: “Where do the fights and quarrels come from?” Where jealousy and ambition reign, there we also find unrest and all kinds of inferior practices. Where do these fights and quarrels come from among you? Surely only from your passions. So it is the power struggle that leads the disciples to bicker about who among them is the greatest; who among them may take the place of honor and leadership after Jesus. It does not spring from the urge to serve but to be served. This is against the principle of Jesus who said that the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
For Jesus, leadership does not mean exercising power over others or wanting to be the boss. Being a leader means being a servant, daring to be the least. And to make clear what he expects from leaders, he placed a child in their midst. Those who want to follow him must seek to live like children. They live freely, in spontaneous trust. They are small and fragile, but feel safe in the caring love of their parents. If I want to help such a child, I have to stoop down, I have to make myself small to bring myself to the same level as the child. If I want to take a child in my arms, I have to kneel, because if I don’t do that, I force the child to cling to my legs or my hip. Whoever does not stoop down and does not bring himself to the same level as a child, cannot take the child in his or her arms either. And that is exactly what Jesus wants to tell us. Get off your high horse and look at the world with the eyes of those who are down there, who are helpless, without rights, unprotected, and dependent on the help of others. Look at their situation and be of service to them. By siding with those who have no standing, we also oppose everything that belittles them and pushes them to the margins of society.
Jesus added something very important: “Whoever receives a child like this in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives not me but him that sent me? Serving people for the sake of God is serving God. Like committing yourself to someone, caring for a vulnerable human being is encountering something of God. This is actually what the judgment day will look like as described in Matthew 25: 31-46. We cannot achieve all of that without faith and trust in God. Let’s pray that God will always open our eyes to recognize him in those who come our way. Amen.