Posted on September 20, 2024 View all Gospel Reflection
“I don’t want to hear about it. No news is good news.”
How many times do we hear this expression? No one likes to hear bad news. Also no one likes to hear criticism. This is the big problem in companies and organizations where the person in charge is surrounded by “yes-men” and no one stands up to tell them what is really going on. In the reading from Wisdom, the wicked people said” “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for our transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” (Wis. 2:12) It seems strange that in the people of Israel you would have persons who did not want to hear admonishment and how they are called to stay in conformity with the Law. For all the great efforts, strictness of the scribes and Pharisees, they did not want to hear negative comments.
In the Gospel and second reading this theme continues, where the values of the world do not align with the values and morals of the righteous. In fact, sometimes the righteous will suffer at the hands of the unjust and sinful. After all in the first reading we see how the just one was being persecuted by those he was trying to correct. The Gospel of Mark very succinctly records how Jesus told his disciples “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him.” (Mk. 9:31) In fact he then proceeds to ask them about what they were discussing just after he told them this shocking news. I am sure it was disappointing for Jesus to hear how they were discussing among themselves who was the greatest.
This thirst for honor, power and wealth is often what will hold us back from truly becoming holy. Their eyes were fixed on this world, while the Lord was calling them to look towards the true goal of eternal life in heaven. The Letter of James says “Where jealousy and selfish ambitions exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.” (Jas. 3:16) This pursuit and focus of earthly gains causes us to covet yet never really possessing, to kill and envy but to never really obtain.
Jesus then gives hope to the disciples in the person of a child. Placing the child in their midst 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.” (Mk. 9:37) And why would receiving a child make things different? Well imagine that you are now focused on giving your attention to one who does not have the ability to bring you fame or riches. Or worse, to give attention to one who takes your time for their own needs. It is in giving that we receive. This inversion of worldly wisdom is how Jesus leads his disciples to move beyond their limited earthly horizon and look beyond.
Our challenge this week is to seek those opportunities to welcome into our midst the child-like. How can we be generous not just with money or possessions, but with our time? This can begin at home. It can happen at work. It can happen at school. Look for those opportunities to serve the Lord in each other, especially in those that annoy us or do not repay back our generosity.
