Mark 9:30-37
Gospel according to Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and 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.”
Reflections
Today’s Gospel readings encapsulate several of the themes central to the teachings of Jesus. The passage foretells the death and resurrection of Jesus, serving as a prophecy that demonstrates the sacrificial nature of His mission. Jesus states that “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death [he] will rise.” Jesus highlights the inevitability of His impending suffering and the triumph that will follow with His resurrection. This clear teaching, which must have seemed unusual at the time, forms the cornerstone of the Catholic faith.
Despite Jesus’ plain and direct message, we can see the struggle of the Disciples to accept the meaning of His words – They kept silent, and did not ask for clarification. Mark states that “they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.” This misunderstanding reflects the limited perception of the Disciples, and their struggle to comprehend the Divine Plan of God. Their worldly fear and confusion provide a prime example of the human tendency to shy away from difficult truths, even when they are inevitable and plainly stated.
The next section of the passage shifts to a lesson on the importance of humility – prompted by the Disciples’ argument along the way to Capernaum about which one of them was the most virtuous. Jesus addresses them by stating: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” This teaching emphasizes the true nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God, which is not about power or social status, but instead requires humility and service to others. Jesus invites us to adopt a radically different perspective on leadership and greatness – His teachings must have deeply challenged the societal norms of the time, and still continue to shake up societal norms today.
Jesus then illustrates the nature of discipleship using the example of a child. He takes a child in his arms, stating: “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.” This action symbolizes the true characteristics of a disciple of Jesus: Innocence, dependence, and humility. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of welcoming and valuing those who are overlooked and marginalized in our communities – By accepting the outcasts of society, we are also accepting God.
In this passage, Jesus is calling us to embrace the seemingly paradoxical nature of the Christian message: Life being found through death, greatness being achieved through humility, and leadership acquired through service. These key themes resonate with the teachings found in the Letters of St. Paul, who often described the transformative power of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His call to live in humble servitude. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ” (Philippians 2:3-4) It is demonstrated that today’s Gospel not only reveals the essence of Jesus’ mission, but also serves as a timeless guide for our daily lives.