The greatest in the kingdom
Gospel Reading: Mk 9:30-37
JESUS and his disciples began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “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.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, “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.”
Reflection WHERE TRUE GREATNESS LIES
“Competition is good.” That is a mantra we have heard many times. Competition results in lower prices. It brings out the best in people. It inspires people to initiate, to innovate, and to be creative. Competition is great!
This must be what the apostles of Jesus are doing as they discuss among themselves who is the greatest among them. Peter may be insisting that he is the greatest; Jesus is building his church upon him. Philip and Andrew, however, will not be outdone, pointing out that they are Jesus’ most reliable advisers. As the youngest in the group, John must maintain that he is Jesus’ favorite and for that reason he is called the “beloved disciple.” The others, we surmise, will not allow themselves to be outclassed.
When we constantly adopt a competitive mentality, the objective is often how we can surpass or exceed the other, how we can come out on top. Winning is what matters. To be great is to be the first. Greatness is defined as “being number one.” Our fellow human being is an opponent whom we must outshine, outclass, outdo, outperform, and overtake. Often, jealousy and envy accompany such a competitive mentality.
Jesus turns this thinking upside down and offers another understanding of greatness: “Greatness is in being last.” This statement sounds contrary to what we have been used to, but that is precisely the alternative that Jesus presents. For him, that means being the servant of all and entails “receiving a child in his name.” Commenting on this, John Donahue and Daniel Harrington rightly point out, “In the first-century Palestinian society a child would symbolize not so much innocence or unspoiledness as lack of social status and legal right. A child was a ‘non-person’ totally dependent on others for nurture and protection.” To receive a child, then, is to welcome the lowliest in our society.
That is what Jesus is teaching his disciples. What he is presenting is not simply a new standard by which we measure greatness but also a new vision for our communities where no one, not even the lowliest, is left behind.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.