September 2018

Today’s Gospel has at its heart issues of power. It begins with Jesus speaking about His impending passion, death and resurrection. The problem is that the disciples do not understand what He is saying. Today we are told plainly that they are too afraid to ask for an explanation. Instead of trying to get inside the meaning of Jesus’ words, the disciples argue about who is the greatest among them. They focus on themselves. Being around Jesus, witnessing His power and sharing in that authority themselves has turned their heads. They are followers of a miracle worker. Power flows from and through Him. So how human it is for them to start discussing who is closest to Jesus; who is most effective as a follower; who is most powerful. Hierarchy would have been important to people in the time of Jesus, just as it is today in many areas of our society. Jesus wants to make it clear that greatness or power or hierarchy are not to be focus for His followers. These are things that can turn His disciples in on themselves and make them an exclusive group. Belonging to the group and finding a rank within it is not what matters, but finding Jesus in the least likely places is what counts. Jesus takes a child, someone who is not respected because children had no status in the society of that day, someone who has no rights. Jesus says that true power comes in the ability to open one’s arms and receive a child as if he or she were Christ himself.

In church circles, there can be temptation to think that we are important when we are involved in various ministries, or are given impressive titles. Listening to St. James in second reading, we would do well to be reminded that the disordered desires fighting in ourselves can often be the source of a desire for power and glory. Prayer is surely the antidote. Closeness to Christ through regular prayer will help us to be shaped according to His will and to grow in the humility He so desires for all His followers. Prayer is our weapon of choice. True power comes when we allow ourselves to be filled by the Holy Spirit to be leaven in this world and a member of the body of Christ, clinging to Him in prayer.