Wis 2:12,17-20; Ps 54; Jas 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37
COMMENTARY
The Mission of God’s Messenger
The Gospel reading for today presents Jesus’ second prediction regarding the culminating phase of His mission. The initial prophecy was conveyed on the route to Caesarea Philippi and was previously discussed in the sermon delivered on the previous Sunday. Strangely enough, the disciples’ initial response to Jesus’ words was similar to their previous reaction. They had, that is, human thoughts. This prompted Jesus to offer further teachings on the attitudes every disciple should have in carrying out the divine mission. Even today, Jesus’ words continue to resonate with modern disciples, urging us to examine ourselves, in particular, to reflect on three key aspects for a potential missionary spiritual renewal.
1. A Confidential Revelation to the Disciples
Firstly, it is essential to examine the specific circumstances surrounding Jesus’ second prediction of his painful death. He shared this information with His disciples when they “began a journey through Galilee” and were intentionally incognito, as the evangelist Mark noted: “He did not wish anyone to know about it.” This is a highly confidential revelation that was intended for close disciples. It occurred along their journey through Galilee, which is Israel’s territory but is also known as Galilee of the Gentiles. This provides insight into the universal horizon of Jesus’ proclamation about the fulfillment of His mission as the Son of Man and the Messiah of God. Additionally, the “reserved” and “on the road” teachings of Jesus may be seen as an implicit invitation to the disciples to accept the tragic “fate” of their Master-Messiah and their own lives and missions in following Him, that is, in walking after Him!
The life of Jesus the Messiah, which ended in such a dramatic manner before men but with divine reward after death, reflects the fate of the righteous persecuted. This fate is already described in the book of Wisdom (first reading) by the sacred author. The righteous Son of God must face trials in life, made by the wicked “with revilement and torture,” and condemned to death. And Jesus Himself, in constant mystical communion with the Father, and also in the light of the divine Word and the righteousness of God in the history of His people, could constantly see His own end, even before everything was fulfilled. This is how He revealed to His disciples…
2. “What were you arguing about on the way?” The Unvarnished Truth about the Apostles’ “War”!
It is regrettable that, despite Jesus’s explicit references to His impending humiliation in Passion and supreme sacrifice of life, His disciples not only demonstrated a lack of interest in questioning or discussing these matters with Him but also allowed themselves to preoccupy themselves with their own human affairs. In fact, “They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.” We can definitely see the humor in the evangelist’s observation, which might even be a bit ironic. What happened, though, seems to be a pretty typical situation that’s repeated in one way or another among Jesus’ disciples, generation after generation! So, even today, there are people who, while praying the rosary with the sorrowful mysteries of Jesus, think about when they’ll become superior of the community!
About this aspiration to become greater among Christians, the Letter of James, written in the first century of Christianity, gives us a glimpse of some “war” situations in its community. Thus, the sacred author had to warn and then denounce: “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. […] Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?” This ongoing war among Jesus’ disciples for superiority was, is and will be a significant challenge to their mission of evangelizing the world that they seek to accomplish at the mandate of their Master and Lord. No one yields to anyone, even when it’s in the name of divine truth! Here, Pope Francis’ cry in Evangelii Gaudium “No to warring among ourselves” (cf. nn. 98-101), with its scathing analysis of the current situation, must be repeated:
How many wars take place within the people of God and in our different communities! In our neighbourhoods and in the workplace, how many wars are caused by envy and jealousy, even among Christians! Spiritual worldliness leads some Christians to war with other Christians who stand in the way of their quest for power, prestige, pleasure and economic security. Some are even no longer content to live as part of the greater Church community but stoke a spirit of exclusivity, creating an “inner circle”. Instead of belonging to the whole Church in all its rich variety, they belong to this or that group which thinks itself different or special. (n. 98)
Kyrie eleison!
3. The Basic Principles of the Mission
Therefore, Jesus’ teaching in this regard, made to the Twelve, now “inside the house,” retain their contemporary and enduring relevance in saecula seculorum for all members of the Church, or the house of God: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” The special importance of this teaching of Jesus is emphasized by the solemn manner in which He taught it: “He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them.” The description of the circumstances is imbued with a sense of solemnity that calls to mind the moment when Jesus first called and established the Twelve on the mountain (cf. Mark 3:13-14). In light of this, the teaching that Jesus now offers from the position of “sitting down,” as Master, encourages each of the disciples to reflect on their true calling to be the last, “servant of all,” in the path of mission, just as He did, “though he was in the form of God, […] he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8).
The first fundamental principle for fulfilling God’s and Christ’s mission is to adopt the attitude of a humble servant of all and in everything, in accordance with Jesus’ example, even to the point of offering one’s life. This is such an important point that it is reiterated by Jesus at another time: “Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:44-45). It seems evident that the service, in the mission of Jesus and His disciples, is not to be expressed only by individual acts, but also and above all by the offering of one’s whole life, which becomes as bread broken for all.
It could be said that becoming the last implies an ever smaller being. This seems to be the perspective that Jesus was trying to convey to his disciples on that occasion, using the living illustration of a child: “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 phrase is reminiscent of another statement by Jesus to the disciples, who were sent on a mission: “Whoever receives you receives me,* and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me” (Mt 10:40).
This reflects the Jewish principle of shaliah, “sending,” which was well known in Jesus’ day, according to which the sent messenger fully represents the one who sends him. On this basis Jesus reveals the divine chain of mission: God-Jesus-the apostles. The combination of the two aforementioned statements allows us to discern two fundamental truths. Firstly, the child, in its small and helpless state, paradoxically becomes the ideal image of Jesus’ envoy. Secondly, every missionary disciple of Jesus is called to become smaller and smaller, like a child, in the eyes of others, in order to represent Jesus in their mission. In this manner, the missionary disciple who follows Christ annihilates all personal ambitions for success and greatness, relying entirely on God and Christ, who sent him, even when confronted with adversity and the cross.
Therefore, we conclude our reflection by prayerfully recalling a significant passage from Pope Francis’ message for World Mission [Sun]Day 2022: “Missionaries of Christ are not sent to communicate themselves, to exhibit their persuasive qualities and abilities or their managerial skills. Instead, theirs is the supreme honour of presenting Christ in words and deeds, proclaiming to everyone the Good News of his salvation, as the first apostles did, with joy and boldness.” May Christ always be with us on this missionary journey, giving us strength and wisdom from above! Amen.
Useful points to consider:
Pope Francis, Angelus, Saint Peter’s Square, Sunday, 19 September 2021
The Gospel of today’s Liturgy (Mk 9:30-37) narrates that, on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus’ disciples were discussing “with one another who was the greatest” (v. 34). So, Jesus directed harsh words toward them that are still valid today: “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (v. 35). If you want to be first, you need to get in line, be last, and serve everyone. […]
Today, the word “service” appears a bit hackneyed, worn out by use. But it has a precise and concrete meaning in the Gospel. To serve is not a courteous expression: it means to act like Jesus, who, summing up his life in a few words, said he had come “not to be served, but to serve” (Mk 10:45). This is what the Lord said. Therefore, if we want to follow Jesus, we must follow the path he himself traced out, the path of service. Our fidelity to the Lord depends on our willingness to serve. And we know this often costs, because “it tastes like a cross”. But, as our care and availability toward others grows, we become freer inside, more like Jesus. The more we serve, the more we are aware of God’s presence. Above all, when we serve those who cannot give anything in return, the poor, embracing their difficulties and needs with tender compassion: and we in turn discover God’s love and embrace there. […]
Pope Francis, Apostolic journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, 22-25 September 2018, Homily, Santakos Park in Kaunas (Lithuania), Sunday, 23 September 2018
Saint Mark devotes an entire section of his Gospel to the instruction of the Lord’s disciples.
It would seem that Jesus, at the halfway point of his journey to Jerusalem, wanted them to renew their choice to follow him, knowing that it would entail moments of trial and grief. The Evangelist describes this period of Jesus’ life by mentioning that on three occasions he announced his passion. All three times, the disciples expressed bewilderment and opposition, and on each of these occasions the Lord wished to leave them a teaching. We have just heard about the second of these three occasions (cf. Mk 9:30-37). […]
Jesus, knowing what the disciples were discussing, provided them with an antidote to their struggles for power and their rejection of sacrifice. And to make his teaching all the more solemn, he sat down, as a teacher would, summoned them and set a child in their midst; the kind of child that would earn a penny for doing chores no one else would care to do. Whom would Jesus place in our midst today, here, on this Sunday morning? Who will be the smallest, the poorest in our midst, whom we should welcome a hundred years after our independence? Who is it that has nothing to give us, to make our effort and our sacrifices worthwhile? Perhaps it is the ethnic minorities of our city. Or the jobless who have to emigrate. May be it is the elderly and the lonely, or those young people who find no meaning in life because they have lost their roots.
“In their midst” means at the same distance from everybody, so that no one can claim not to notice, no one can argue that it is “somebody else’s responsibility” because “I didn’t see him”, or “I am further away”. And without anyone drawing attention to oneself, wanting to be applauded or singled out for praise. […]