TUESDAY MAY 21, 2024
TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
James 4: 1-10
Mark 9: 30-37
CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUFFERINGS AND AUTHORITY
The natural human tendency is to seek and cling to power, to be exalted, to be honoured and respected. Everybody seeks these things from others. No one wishes to accept suffering, or be humiliated and even be treated like a second class citizen. Everybody aspires to be great and to be on top.
It was against these tendencies that Jesus had to take his disciples away from the crowd to intimate them about his coming sufferings and cruel death. He informs them about the life he has chosen not minding that now he is seen as being flamboyant with curing people, exhibiting so much authority and powers. That there is yet another type of life and mission different yet necessary that he must undergo. And that was his suffering, his cruel death and his crucifixion.
This was told his disciples with much stress and great distress so that they understand and adhere to it. But much more so that they will take up same form of life and become like their master. But instead, their human inclinations of seeking self preservation and pride surfaced with their quarreling on who was the greatest or who will be the greatest among them when the master is finally gone.
It gave Jesus much labour to convince them again on the essential qualities of a leader, a follower and a disciple of his. He put before them a child and requests them to emulate the character of this child.
Greatness for Jesus is not found in acquisition or exercise of powers. But greatness is found in humility, trusting faith and total reliance on God. For Jesus, a child is the closest demonstration of the qualities demanded of a disciple of his.
A child is innocent, recognizes his vulnerability, and turns in total abandonment to the source of help in the parents and guardians. So a child is without any powers or authorities but relies on that of his or her parents or guardians. So in a child is this trusting faith, dependence, lack of fear, total abandonment and leaning on the parents innocently and totally. This is what a disciple should be, innocent, total and unreserved dependence on God and his grace for survival.
There is also humility in a child who is ready to follow instructions, childlike obedience to rules and regulations and never questions anything or anyone but acts from humility since a child owns nothing, demand nothings and requests nothings but the basic needs and is assured at all times that these basic things will be supplied at the appropriate time. Humility in thoughts, words and actions is essential and necessary for greatness and happiness in the Christian life. And that is what Jesus requests from his disciples.
Heavenly Father, as you teach us the kind of life you expect from us as your disciples, we beg you, give us this spirit of childlike humility, obedience, trusting faith and dependence on you. Help us to value our faith and strive to uphold it not minding the obstacles and suffering in it. Thank you Lord for the successful surgery and grant me quick recovery through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
