Fr Agustinus Sutiono O.Carm
The context today’s gospel reading is the prophecy of Jesus about his upcoming suffering. Jesus taught the disciples about his fate that he would be handed over to men and be killed, and three days after his death, he would rise.” However, they did not understand the saying and were afraid to question him. Instead of seeking for understanding, they discussed on the way something of their own interest, about who was the greatest among themselves.
Glory, honor and wealth are three worldly ideals that most societies commonly mantain to pursue. They are the core of every human enterprise. The voyage and the exploration of the new world in the past carried out three concerns: gold, glory and gospel. The teaching of Jesus today reminds us to those values. It is human and normal to think of gaining glory, honor and wealth. However, as we put ourselves under the title of discipleship to Jesus our spiritual master, we are made aware that we are to pursue the values that Jesus wants us to seek for. It is logical because disciples shall learn and inherit the knowledge, skills, understanding and values that the teacher taught them. Unfortunately, these themes did not gain much of their attention. They had their own agenda towards the amazing Jesus.
They planed to make Jesus into a political leader, a political mesiah. In having so, they could change their own social status and level. In their eyes it was clear that Jesus had won the heart of the people and had the supernatural power. Jesus was just about to reign. So, glory, honor, and wealth were close at their hand. They started to discuss to each other about who would be the greatest among themselves. Knowing that they could not answer his question “What were you arguing about on the way?”, Jesus concluded that they did not understand what they were discussing. He said: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” To make this point clearer, he took a child, placed it in their midst. 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.”
Greatness and success in God’s eyes are measured differently. They are measured by service. Not on what someone has, but on what someone gives. Our fidelity to the Lord depends on our willingness to serve. We know this often costs, because ‘it tastes like a cross.’ But, as our care and availability toward others grow, we become freer inside, more like Jesus. The more we serve, the more we are aware of God’s presence. To embrace his presence without burdening ourselves with our own dreams and ideals is like to receive and embrace a child in Jesus’ name, as he exemplified. That is the right thing to do as a disciple of Jesus. That is the way to greatness in God’s eyes.