MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to Mark 9:30-37
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capenaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
FROM the Gospel today we are invited to understand that there can be no share in God’s glory without the cross. It is our way to follow Jesus Christ. We have to be the last of all and servant of all.
Jesus clearly prophesies his own betrayal and crucifixion, but it does not make any sense to his disciples because it does not fit their understanding of what the Messiah comes to do. Unfortunately, they are afraid to ask further questions!
They are even arguing about who among them is the greatest. When Jesus says about suffering and cross, they discuss on taking great pride in being the chosen twelve. They think of position and special privileges.
We are so many times like the disciples, aren’t we? We cherish the ambition to be somebody whom others admire rather than a nobody. The Gospel today teaches us to be humble and to have lowly of heart. Instead of asserting our rights we have to willingly empty ourselves. We must take the lowly position of a servant of all.
Jesus Christ came not to be served, but to serve. He emptied himself and took the form of a servant. He lowered himself and took on our lowly nature that he might raise us up and clothe us in his divine nature.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we worship Jesus Christ as our model of the humility. He gives grace to the humble. Let’s be ready to humble ourselves and to serve as Jesus did.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to empty ourselves. By your suffering and cross you have redeemed the world and revealed your glory and triumph over sin and death. Help us to follow in your way of holiness by serving you and others humbly now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
