There existed conflict among the disciples of Jesus and in the first Christian community. There were discussions on who could be the first and the best. In today’s gospel Jesus gives the norm to become the first and the best among the disciples of Jesus.
As Jesus continued his public ministry he knew that he should suffer and die through the hands of the enemy. He knew that his disciples also should go the same way of suffering and death. But Jesus was hopeful because he knew that he would be raised from the dead and be united with God the Father.
But Jesus was very much anxious about his disciples because they neither understood the mission and ministry of Jesus nor were they interested on the teaching of Jesus. They were fully influenced by the worldly thoughts. They discussed with one another based on their materialistic thinking. They discussed among themselves and argued each other on the theme who would be the greatest and influential among themselves. In other words who could be the next ones to Jesus to claim the successorship.
Some times people think that life is like a football play. Who kicks more goals will be the winner. For that they have to block others from kicking goals. To block the chances of others and to create one’s own chances are the method and norm for success in a football play. But the players have to keep the rules of the play.
According to Jesus the dailey life is different. His norms are different. It is giving and taking, living and letting others to live, acknowledging and get acknowledged.
To the question of Jesus on what you spoke on the way the disciples kept silence. Nobody dared to say anything. They all knew that their thoughts, discussions and intentions were wrong.
If one has tried to get served and attempt to be the first and the greatest of all, then it will be difficult for it to gain friends and attain acknowledgement. But if it begins to serve and to help, then it will experience happiness and gratitude. If God himself will be helping the humans in which God loves and carries the humans in God’s hands in all the difficult situations of life, then we also should be ready to serve and help others. If we begin to serve others, then we will be able to receive the message of God.
The readiness to be humble and to be simple will make one great. To be able to serve is the message of Jesus. To become like a child in order to enter into the kingdom of God is the message and commandment of Jesus.
We live in a period of uncertainty in many levels. It is a period of need and anxiety. Jesus was on earth only for a small period, but Jesus could change the world. In proclaiming the message of Jesus we participate in the mission and ministry of Jesus. Let us be ready to proclaim the kingdom of God by serving the people and by being humble and by being simple.
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS