THE ONE WHO SERVES IS MORE WORTHY – 23 September 2018, 25th Sunday In Ordinary Time (B)

WIS 2:12,17-20; JAS 3:16 - 4:3; MK 9:30-37

– Fernando Armellini SCJ
Claretian Publications, Macau

Right in the beginning of today’s gospel we are faced with the question: “He is about to be delivered,” by whom? The answer seems obvious: by Judas. But the theologians call the ‘delivered’ a divine passive, i.e. God himself is the doer of the action. “It is God” who gives his Son, “who delivers him into the hands of people.”

The disciples are not able to understand this self-sacrificing love of the Lord. Their thoughts are far too removed from those of the Lord and are afraid to ask him for clarification (v. 32). They cannot accept the idea that God abandons his chosen one into the hands of criminals.

Once in Capernaum, the Master asks them, “What were you discussing on the way?” (v. 33). The disciples are silent, they feel exposed, ashamed.

Jesus “sits down,” takes the position of the rabbi who is preparing to teach an important lesson. “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” It is the synthesis of his proposal of life and it is so important that the evangelists resume it six times in different shades.

Mark notes that the scene took place “in the house” and this “house” represents the Christian community. Each community must consider addressed to itself the words of the Master. It has to absolutely avoid inventing excuses to justify the situations of domination and subordination, which are in sharp contrast with the gospel.

In the Christian community whoever occupies the first place has to put aside all desires of greatness. The Church is not a stepping stone to get to positions of prestige, to emerge, to gain control over others. It is the place where everyone complies with the gifts he has received from God, celebrate their greatness in humble service to others. In God’s eyes, the greatest is the one who most resembles Christ, who is the servant of all (Lk 22:27).

The Lord wants the community of his disciples to put at the center of its attention and efforts the poorest, those who do not count, the marginalized and the insignificant.