21-Feb-17

Gospel MK 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.
For 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."
Reflection:
Today's gospel story is a telling revelation about fear and how it can ignite a person's need to control.
It begins with Jesus teaching His disciples about what they should expect to happen: "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."
The disciples did not understand what Jesus is telling them and are "afraid" to question Him.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter responds to Jesus' revelation that He will soon be killed by saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." (Matthew 16:22)
Whenever we don't understand something, the seeds of fear begin to grow within us. Our human response to fear is the need to control the situation.
So, as they journey on to Capernaum, the disciples argue among themselves about who is the greatest among them. Add ego and pride to the "fear" they were experiencing and it's easy to imagine their discussion quickly leading to, "Who among us should be in charge once Jesus is gone?"
The disciples were not being deliberately disloyal to Jesus. They were simply thinking and behaving in accordance with their human nature.
Jesus responded with patience and understanding, explaining that leadership is about sacrifice and service.
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."
Whether at church, in ministry or with our family, authentic leadership is about putting others before self.
Jesus then backed up His words with an example:
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."
We may find it appealing and natural to ingratiate ourself with those who are important and influential, those who can do something for us.
But, a small child, the weak and the poor have no power.
Rather than doing something for us, they always seem to need something from us.
Jesus tells His disciples, and us, that when we associate with and serve those who are powerless, it is then that we are receiving and serving Him. And, when we serve Jesus, we are also serving God who sent Him.
"Leadership: Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you." - - Unknown