25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
23 September 2018
| Second reading James 3:16-4:3 |
|---|
Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your ravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your ravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
Jesus and his disciples came from the mountain and began to go through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
By Art B. Reyes
Two trees are planted by the road side next to each other. One a mango and the other a big acacia tree. The mango with greener leaves bore sweet and juicy mangoes which attract many people to rest under its shade and equally enjoy its sweet fruit. While the acacia tree was just one with several branches and lush leaves but does not bear fruits.
One day, the mango tree having grown so proud of its appearance, looked down on the acacia tree and said to it, "Look at me, I am so beautiful with many fruits. Everyone goes to me to taste my produce. I am the best tree out here!"
The next day, a group of men arrived, they all came under the mango tree and plucked all its fruits. They picked them so roughly that they broke many branches and leaves making the tree unhealthy. After they left, the mango tree looked ugly, ashamed and was in pain. The acacia tree said, "See how pride has eroded you and your beauty, while I am standing here safe and sound. I even provide shade to them who took the life out of you."
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reprimanded His disciples who were arguing as to who among them was the greatest. Jesus pointed out that neither one of them was the greatest. He took this chance to teach them to be humble like a little child. “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and servant of all.”
In pursuit of greatness, we as human beings want to be significant. We want to be “somebody” in the society. We want to be the one who drives the fanciest car, the one with the latest mobile phone, the one with the most expensive luxury bags, etc. We want to achieve something, and ultimately get the recognition. In the end we want to be powerful so we hang out with the important people in our community and treat them extraordinarily because they are “somebody”. On the contrary, we turn a blind eye on the poor, the weak, the unheard, the vulnerable.
Is it wrong to be proud of our hard earned accomplishments? No, until when we start saying “Look at me, look at what I’ve accomplished! And you?” If we think that we are better than other people we cut ourselves off from them. This makes us insensitive to their needs and we may even take advantage of and use them for our own interest. God gave us our gifts and our abilities. But when we selfishly use them, we cut God out of the picture.
If we are to follow the Lord, we must walk humbly with Him. To walk humbly means that our relationship with God is the center piece of our journey and we are His faithful followers. We must journey respectfully, equally, and truthfully with all of our other brothers and sisters.
Prayer
Two trees are planted by the road side next to each other. One a mango and the other a big acacia tree. The mango with greener leaves bore sweet and juicy mangoes which attract many people to rest under its shade and equally enjoy its sweet fruit. While the acacia tree was just one with several branches and lush leaves but does not bear fruits.
One day, the mango tree having grown so proud of its appearance, looked down on the acacia tree and said to it, "Look at me, I am so beautiful with many fruits. Everyone goes to me to taste my produce. I am the best tree out here!"
The next day, a group of men arrived, they all came under the mango tree and plucked all its fruits. They picked them so roughly that they broke many branches and leaves making the tree unhealthy. After they left, the mango tree looked ugly, ashamed and was in pain. The acacia tree said, "See how pride has eroded you and your beauty, while I am standing here safe and sound. I even provide shade to them who took the life out of you."
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reprimanded His disciples who were arguing as to who among them was the greatest. Jesus pointed out that neither one of them was the greatest. He took this chance to teach them to be humble like a little child. “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and servant of all.”
In pursuit of greatness, we as human beings want to be significant. We want to be “somebody” in the society. We want to be the one who drives the fanciest car, the one with the latest mobile phone, the one with the most expensive luxury bags, etc. We want to achieve something, and ultimately get the recognition. In the end we want to be powerful so we hang out with the important people in our community and treat them extraordinarily because they are “somebody”. On the contrary, we turn a blind eye on the poor, the weak, the unheard, the vulnerable.
Is it wrong to be proud of our hard earned accomplishments? No, until when we start saying “Look at me, look at what I’ve accomplished! And you?” If we think that we are better than other people we cut ourselves off from them. This makes us insensitive to their needs and we may even take advantage of and use them for our own interest. God gave us our gifts and our abilities. But when we selfishly use them, we cut God out of the picture.
If we are to follow the Lord, we must walk humbly with Him. To walk humbly means that our relationship with God is the center piece of our journey and we are His faithful followers. We must journey respectfully, equally, and truthfully with all of our other brothers and sisters.
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to submit myself to Your good and loving will. Conceal pride from us, and clothe us with humility. Teach us to be gentle and lowly in heart so we may seek not our own good only, but also the good of our neighbors. Amen.
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