A Work in Progress

~~~ Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~Wisdom 2:12, 17-20~~Psalm 54~~~ 

~~~ James 3:16—4:3 ~~~Mark 9:30-37 ~~~

The Son of Man is to be handed over to men

and they will kill him,

and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.

Jesus is trying to prepare the apostles for his passion and death,

but they are more concerned about which one of them is greater.

Our human nature often gets in the way of our better judgment.

Since they did not understand what Jesus was telling them

they focused on their own concerns.

Their own potential greatness;

after all they may or may not have all known 

each other before Jesus called them to follow him.

But Jesus does not scold them.

He gives them an example they can relate to...

“If anyone wishes to be first,

he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

If this wasn't enough to confuse them even more than they were

Jesus continues to further dissolve their concept of greatness.

He takes a child from the crowd and places him

in the middle of the group.

This must have been shocking to them

 because children had no rights at that time.

There would have been no court appointed lawyer 

to represent a child in court.

If the Jews believed that you had to earn your way

 into heaven through good works then why 

would you want to be like a little child?

They were not able to make decisions on their own so why

even bring them into the picture?

At the time children just did not make a difference...

how could they possibly have any place

 in the spectrum of 'greatness'?

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, 

receives me;

and whoever receives me,

receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Once again Jesus would challenge 

and frustrate their widely held beliefs.

They must have almost been insulted 

at the idea of placing such value on a child.

The Lord says that unless you place your self last,

such as a child, you can never expect to be first.

By nature, a child is weak, helpless, unworthy, dependent,

humble with no possessions...

These are the characteristics 

Jesus is advocating for us to emulate. 

Gaining entry into the kingdom of heaven 

has more to do with being like a child

 than creating a place of power and prestige.

 ...wisdom from above is first of all pure,

then peaceable, gentle, compliant,

full of mercy and good fruits,

without inconstancy or insincerity. 

James writes these words in his letter we read today.

These words too can be used to describe children.

There is nothing here to support bickering 

over who is the greatest.

Looking at your own life today,

I invite you to identify which of these child like characteristics

you see in yourself.

But more importantly honestly admit to yourself

where you are still a work in progress.

There is still time...your journey is not yet completed.

Whenever you have the opportunity

to be in the midst of children and take note of their pure joy.

Perhaps the little ones give us the best glimpse of heaven.

May you be Blessed with child like trust and faith.

~~~Peace~~~