First Reading
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
Second Reading
James 3:16-4:3
Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. 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? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Gospel Cycle Cycle B
Mark 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. 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 the 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.”
There is a clear focus in today’s first reading and in the Gospel on the necessity for humility and service in those who claim to be followers of God. These qualities are important in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. Such qualities are important in the ordained priests of the Church as well as in all Christians who strive to proclaim the Good News to others.
When we look at the history of religions, we too often find that those who proclaim the goodness of a religion also use that religion to control and manipulate others. In our Roman Catholic faith, the Second Vatican Council was an attempt to bring about in the Church a deeper sense of being a servant of God and a servant of people.
The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, is trying to describe how a model good person lives under persecution or under attack from others. The description is given from the side of those who want to destroy such a model believer. They see this “just one” as obnoxious because he expects them to follow the law and to be faithful to the disciplines of their training. These people who want to destroy the just one are well aware that God will defend such a person and even deliver such a person. They just do not realize how such a vindication might come about.
They want to test the gentleness and patience of the just one. Probably many of us know how irritating the gentleness and patience of others can be when they do not want to cooperate with what we want!! This Book of Wisdom simply takes this reality and shows us that it can bring about even a desire to put to death such a person.
In the Gospel, Jesus is shown to us as He recognizes that others want to put him to death. He predicts the passion that he will suffer. This awareness of His own suffering is used as a teaching to His followers that they also must learn to suffer in order to serve others. If there is any desire to be “the first” in a community, then that desire must be transformed into service of others.
Surely as we pray these readings and strive to understand what God may be asking of us through them, we need to become aware of any tendencies in ourselves to dominate others. “Being first” means being ahead of the others. Jesus proclaims that the only way to live in the community of His followers is by learning to serve others. Thus, being first is really being last and those who are already last are really first.
This ideal of service still often eludes those of us in the Church who have positions of authority and leadership. We can get so used to being treated specially and to having others defer to us that we sort of think that this is a necessary way of keeping the Church in order. When we encounter men or women in the Church leadership who only serve, we are often astounded.
Today, as we celebrate Eucharist together, let us ask that our hearts may be converted and that all of us may strive to serve one another in Christ Jesus. If we can all become servants, the world will be transformed.