Like A Child

Weekly Missionary Reflection
25th Ordinary Sunday, 22 September 2024
Wis. 2:12,17-20; Ps. 54:3-4,5,6,8; Jas. 3:16 – 4:3; Mrk. 9:30-37

“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”
(Mark 9:35)

In the last few weeks, social media has been talking about the visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia.  One of the topics is his humbleness, such as choosing an ordinary and common vehicle, sitting in the front seat, and waving to the crowd through an open window. The Pope’s humbleness is a concrete example of the world with its luxuries.

Today’s Gospel is about Jesus telling His disciples of His suffering, death, and resurrection. However, the disciples did not understand His words, and along the journey, they argued of who was the greatest. Then Jesus called them and taught them of humbleness and service. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last and servant of all.”

Jesus emphasizes the importance of humbleness in following Him. People judge others by status, achievement, or power, but Jesus offers a different perspective. Being the greatest before God is not having power or worldly achievement, but one must serve others joyfully and humbly. 

Jesus took a child as a symbol of simplicity and sincerity in His teaching. In Jesus’ time, children were not considered to have significant social status, yet Jesus raised them as an example of how a disciple of Jesus should embrace one another with pure heart, without expecting rewards and praise. 

In a world that praises achievement and status, Jesus invites us to position ourselves as a servant, not as someone seeking honor. Jesus would like to show that serving is the path to true greatness. Following Jesus means serving with love and sacrifice, instead of seeking honor or praise. Jesus asks us to accept others with love just like we accept a child. Do we accept others without prejudice, whatever their background and status?

 In life, being “the greatest” is not winning a competition, but being the most ready for loving and serving. Let us imitate the humbleness of Jesus Christ 

(Ignasius Lede – Commission for Mission of The Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy and sorrow in the unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church this month:

Universal Church Intent: For the cry of the earth
We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and victims of natural disasters and climatic change and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.s

Indonesian Church Intent: Biblical Figures
We pray that Catholic children, teenagers, and youth can find the figures in the Scripture as their idols and models in living their daily lives.

Amen.