IMITATE JESUS…

FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD

21 MAY 2024   TUESDAY 7 ORDINARY TIME

WORD of the DAY 
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.”                (Mark 9:30-37)

How shall I live this Word?   

The disciples are on a journey with Jesus; they are in the stage of formation. Jesus instructs them, announces His passion to them, but as it happens to many students in class, they did not understand or misunderstood and were afraid to question Jesus. One question arises: do they really not understand? Because when they were questioned by the Master about the conversation that they had along the way, the topic concerned who was the most important. What place will we occupy? The first? And Jesus, Teacher, gives them another lesson, the lesson of service. The first must be the last, must be the servant of all. Quite difficult language, which requires a change of mentality, not as the world thinks, where being the last, the servant, does not count. This language of Jesus is hard for you and me, in the sometimes-hidden desire to be taken into consideration, to be the center of attention, to be the first, how to accept this invitation of Jesus? Are we willing to assume the consequences of following Him on the way of renunciation, of the cross?

LORD, my heart is not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I do not busy myself with great matters, with things too sublime for me. Rather, I have stilled my soul, Like a weaned child to its mother, weaned is my soul. Israel, hope in the LORD, now and forever. (Psalm 130)

The voice of Saint John Paul II General Audience 22 November 1995

It is this silence-acceptance of the Word, this ability to meditate on the mystery of Christ, that Mary transmits to the believing people. In a world full of noise and messages of all kinds, her testimony makes us appreciate a spiritually rich silence and promotes the contemplative spirit. Mary testifies to the value of a humble and hidden existence. Everyone normally demands, and almost claims to be fully appreciated for their person and their qualities. Everyone is sensitive to esteem and honor. The Gospels repeatedly report that the Apostles desired the first places in the kingdom. They discussed among themselves who was the greatest and Jesus had to give them in this regard lessons on the necessity of humility and service (cf. Mt 18:1-5; 20:20-28; Mk 9:33-37; 10:35-45; Lk 9:46-48; 22:24-27). Mary, on the other hand, never desired the honors and advantages of a privileged position; she always sought to fulfill the divine will by leading an existence according to the Father’s plan of salvation. To those who often feel the weight of an apparently insignificant existence, Mary reveals how precious life can be, if lived for the love of Christ and His brethren.”

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