Homily- Sunday - 22 September 2024 – XXV Sunday in ordinary Time (B)- Rev. Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB
Sunday - 22 September
2024 – XXV Sunday in ordinary Time (B)
Mass Readings: Wis
2:12.17-20 Ps 54 Jas 3:16-4:3 Mk 9:30-37
Key Verse to Meditate: "Whoever
wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all" (Mk 9:35).
A Story to Ponder:
Once, in a monastery, the friars were devout, faithfully attending
to their daily routines of manual labor, prayer, and communal life. Yet, over
time, the monastery began to suffer from internal conflicts, discontentment,
and harsh words exchanged in the community. This deeply troubled the rector,
who struggled to maintain the harmony of the monastic life.
In search of wisdom, the rector decided to visit a wise man who
lived in a small hut by the riverbank. After listening to the rector pour out
his concerns, the wise man offered him a simple yet profound message:
"Tell your community this secret—one among you is Christ."
The rector returned to the monastery and gathered the friars. He
shared the wise man's words: "One among us is Christ." Gradually, the
atmosphere within the community began to change. The friars started treating
each other with greater respect, showing love, patience, and kindness,
wondering if the other might indeed embody the divine presence of Christ.
Where Christ is present-whether in families or religious
communities-there is an abundance of humility, servanthood, acceptance, love,
forgiveness, understanding, and godly living.
My dear Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
The Liturgy of the Word for this Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary
Time presents us with the journey of Jesus through Galilee and His second
prediction of His Passion and death. It offers a profound teaching on the
themes of servant discipleship and the importance of embracing little children
in the life of faith. Jesus foretold His suffering to His disciples, yet they
failed to comprehend it. Likewise, the Pharisees, Scribes, and chief priests
could not grasp the salvific plan of God in Jesus' Passion and death. In their
blindness, they would eventually crucify Him, believing that His story had come
to an end. However, their lack of faith prevented them from seeing Jesus as the
promised Messiah, the One who not only predicted His death but also His
resurrection: "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they
will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again"
(Mk 9:31).
The First Reading:
The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, reveals how the
righteous man, who lives according to God's will, faces the opposition of the
wicked. It highlights the malicious intentions of those who plot against the
just man, foreshadowing the fate of Christ (cf. Is 3:10). The repeated
phrase "let us" shows the collective determination of the wicked to
harm the innocent. Many Church Fathers, such as Justin Martyr, Eusebius, and
Clement of Alexandria, interpreted this passage as referring to Christ. As St.
Augustine points out, today’s reading from Wisdom foreshadows the Passion of
Jesus as foretold in the Gospel. The attitude of the Pharisees, waiting for
Christ's end, mirrors that of Joseph’s brothers in the Old Testament: "Let
us kill him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams" (Gen 37:20).
Jesus suffered according to the will of the Father, confident in
God's presence even in His suffering and death (cf. Is 42:1; Mt 27:43;
Ps 22:9). As Jesus speaks of His Passion in today’s Gospel, the first
reading from the Book of Wisdom anticipates the response of the elders, chief
priests, and scribes to His final moments on the Cross. The mockery recorded in
Wisdom echoes the taunts at Calvary: "Let us see if his words are true,
and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous
man is God's child, He will help him and deliver him from the hands of his
adversaries" (Wis 2:17-18; cf. Mk 15:35-36). St. Matthew captures
this vividly: "In the same way, the chief priests, along with the scribes
and elders, were mocking Him, saying, 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself.
He is the King of Israel; let Him come down from the cross now, and we will
believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now if He wants to, for
He said, ‘I am God's Son’" (Mt 27:41-43).
The Second Reading:
In
line with the message from the first reading, St. James, in today’s second
reading, warns: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is
disorder and every evil thing” (Jas 3:16). In fact, the entire third chapter
of his letter addresses the conflicts, arguments, and divisions that disturb
the peace and unity of the Christian community. St. James urges believers to
foster a communal way of love and to resist at all costs the destructive vice
of selfishness, which threatens the peace of the Christian community (cf. 2
Cor 12:20). Similarly, St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians, teaching that
God is a God of peace, not of chaos or disorder (1 Cor 14:33).
Believers
are called to create space in their churches for the Spirit of God, who blesses
the community with fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, and faithfulness (Gal 5:22). Jesus, who is the wisdom of God (1
Cor 1:24), exemplifies divine wisdom, which is “pure, peaceable,
gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without
hypocrisy” (Jas 3:17). As noted in the first reading, only Jesus possesses
the full knowledge of God (Wis 2:13). Denial or rejection of Jesus results
in disorder and ungodly living.
Pure Prayer is Made Without Anger:
St.
James continues by teaching that the root of community conflict is not a
passion for truth or divine wisdom but selfish desires. This, he says, is often
the reason why our prayers go unanswered. We might assume that God is slow to
respond to our prayers, but the real issue often lies within ourselves. As St.
James explains: “Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come
from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?” (Jas
4:1). The problem is not with our prayers but with the selfish desires that
contradict the will of God: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask
wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures” (Jas 4:3).
Therefore,
we must align our hearts with God’s will, set aside selfish ambitions, and rely
on the Holy Spirit to overcome the temptations of self-indulgence. St. James
warns: “For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the
Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (Jas 1:7-8).
The Gospel Reading:
In last Sunday’s reading, we saw Jesus foretelling His Passion and
death: “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things
and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be
killed, and after three days rise again” (Mk 8:31; cf. Is 53:6, 12;
Dan 7:25). Similarly, in today’s Gospel (Mk 9:31), Jesus announces His
Passion for the second time, and He will predict it once more in Mark 10:32–34.
Lessons on Becoming Great:
In today’s world, people often strive to be recognized as great, or
at least to appear powerful and authoritative. But today’s Gospel presents us
with simple lessons from Jesus on true greatness. The disciple becomes great
not by seeking power or authority, but by humbling oneself, embracing the
cross, and serving others. Jesus teaches His disciples that their mission in
the world is not limited to proclaiming the Good News, healing the sick, and
casting out demons (Mk 3:13-15; 6:7–13). It is also about service and
humility. This echoes the Old Testament commandment to love one’s neighbour
(cf. Mk 12:31; Lev 19:18) and reinforces the call to self-denial, which
we heard in last Sunday’s Gospel as a condition for following Jesus (Mk
8:34).
Who Is the Greatest?
This question of greatness has long plagued humanity, and even
Jesus’ disciples are not immune to it. In today’s Gospel, we find Jesus once
again in Capernaum, His hometown and the site of many miracles (cf. Mk 1:21;
2:1). Here, Jesus directly asks His disciples about their private discussion on
greatness. They had not dared to question Him about His prediction of His
Passion. Instead, their minds were focused on earthly matters—who among them
was the greatest. While Jesus was speaking of His journey toward suffering and
death in Jerusalem, the Twelve were preoccupied with their personal ambitions
for glory.
Jesus' Destination Was the Cross:
The pivotal moment in this Gospel passage is that Jesus was
“teaching” His disciples about His Passion, yet they “did not understand His
statement, and they were afraid to ask Him” (Mk 9:32). This reveals a
recurring theme: Jesus’ predictions of His death are consistently met with
misunderstanding or resistance. The disciples were reluctant to accept that
their beloved Master would face such an end, perhaps hoping, like Peter, that
He would not have to die. But Jesus gradually makes it clear that He “was born
to die”—to give His life as a ransom for the salvation of the world. His
destination was the cross. While Jesus spoke of the cross, the disciples were
absorbed in discussions about power and leadership, failing to grasp the deeper
meaning of discipleship.
A New Understanding of Leadership:
New Leader
It is striking that, while Jesus was speaking about His Passion,
death, and resurrection, the disciples were concerned with their own status—who
would be first among them. But Jesus did not rebuke them harshly for this;
instead, He met them where they were and used this moment to teach them a
profound lesson about leadership. He said: “Whoever wants to be first must be
last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35; cf. Mk 8:34; 10:34-37). This is
the essence of servant leadership. Jesus, as the authoritative teacher, gathers
the Twelve and explains that true leadership requires a willingness to serve
others. The new model of discipleship is one where each disciple becomes a
servant, offering service and love to one another.
The Theology of Servant Leadership:
The disciples likely grasped at least one key aspect of Christ’s
teaching—servant leadership. According to biblical scholars, in Jesus’ time,
being “first” referred to rulers, aristocrats, priests, and those with
authority and influence (cf. Lk 19:47; Acts 25:2; 28:17). Conversely, being
“last” or being “a servant” was looked down upon, as it implied having no rank,
no privilege, and no authority—something no one would naturally desire. In
human terms, people seek positions of power and prestige, but in God’s kingdom,
greatness is found in humility and the willingness to serve. Only those outside
the kingdom—those in political power—aspire to lord over others and command
authority (Mt 20:25; Lk 22:25). However, Jesus' disciples are called to
follow their Master, who came not to be served but to serve, giving His life as
a ransom for the world by dying on the cross.
Taking a Child as an Example:
Jesus sets a child before the Twelve as an example of true
discipleship. His message is clear: they are to identify with children and
become like “the little ones” who have no claim to greatness. Children are
simple, without pretense or vice. By receiving a child into their midst, Jesus
teaches His disciples to show compassion to even the weak and insignificant
(Mk 9:37). Welcoming a child in Jesus’ name means welcoming Jesus Himself,
and in doing so, they also welcome the One who sent Him.
Jesus and Children:
Jesus had a special love for children, welcoming and blessing them
(Mk 10:13-16). He embraced them willingly, setting them as examples of how to
receive the kingdom of God. In Jesus’ time, children were not highly regarded
and were often dismissed. Listening to children was seen as a waste of time.
Yet, Jesus defied this social norm by using a child as a living parable for
greatness. His powerful message was that anyone who desires to be first must
become a servant, which includes serving the least powerful and least
influential—like children. Interestingly, the Aramaic word ṭalyā˒ means both
“child” and “servant,” underscoring that true servanthood is marked by the
humility and dependence of a child. In this way, the theme of servanthood and
childlikeness are beautifully interconnected.
Receiving a Child Is Receiving
Christ:
To be a servant of Christ means being willing to welcome the lowly,
the vulnerable, and the weak, such as children (Mk 6:11). The proud will not
serve these groups, and in doing so, they ultimately reject Jesus and God the
Father who sent Him. Therefore, “receiving a child” symbolizes embracing those
who are often overlooked or marginalized. In doing so, we receive Christ
Himself, the Servant of the Lord who came to serve (Mk 10:45). The disciples
were the first to welcome the kingdom of God, like children—without guile and
without expectations: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me” (Mk 9:37).
Becoming like children, with open hearts and humility, is a virtue. On the other
hand, if we are consumed by selfish desires and pride, we will find it
difficult to welcome the Word and the Kingdom of God that Christ preached.
Points for Personal Reflection:
Jesus' sole desire was to fulfil the will of the Father. Though His
death on the cross was painful, it became the source of salvation for the
world. This teaches us that when prayers are made in accordance with God's
will, they may be delayed, but ultimately, they will bring blessings to our
lives and souls. St. James warns us that where there is envy and selfish
ambition, disorder and wickedness will follow. Therefore, we are encouraged to
seek wisdom from above, which is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality
or hypocrisy" (Jas 3:17). For those who pursue peace, there is always a
harvest of righteousness as their reward.
The wisdom that comes from God promotes meekness, sincerity, and
peace—the foundation of a just world, composed of just people. Yet even the
righteous, though they have peace, will be put to the test. These trials serve
to strengthen their endurance and deepen their faith.
Am I a true disciple of Christ, willing to embrace the cross?
What have I understood from Jesus' teachings?
Do I grasp the significance of His passion prediction?
Am I willing to follow the model of servant leadership that Jesus
demonstrated?
Pure prayer is offered without anger or selfish desires. What is
the quality of my prayer?
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