Mark 9:3-39
Proper 20 / Year B
Sometimes Jesus gathers
people to tell them a story. Other
times, such as in today’s reading from the gospel, he acts out a parable. The disciples are having a not-so-private
conversation about who among their number is most important to Jesus’
ministry. Jesus, in his typically,
gentle way, calls them on the carpet by asking them what they have been discussing. Not surprisingly, none of them wants to fess
up about the pettiness of their musings.
Jesus then sets out a
fundamental principle of the Kingdom of God: “Whoever wants to be first must be
last. He or she must be a servant of
all.”
This, he says, is what makes for greatness in God’s Kingdom. Then Jesus acts out his teaching. He sees a child, calls the youngster to
himself, and says to everyone, “If you welcome a child in my name you welcome
me. Even more, you welcome the One who
sends me.”
This simple act, like all
parables, speaks in a fresh way no matter how many times we hear it. It sheds light on every new situation we
encounter. And it does what a good
parable does. It can never be boiled
down to a simple meaning which stays frozen over time. It is living and active because life is not
static. There are principles at the core
of every parable or action which endure over time and withstand the changes and
chances of life. When you discern these
principles you find the voice of God speaking to your current situation.
Through this enacted
parable, where Jesus brings a child to himself, we discover much about life in
God’s kingdom. We learn who we are to
admire and what traits we are to emulate.
First and foremost, those who are great in God’s kingdom are
loving. This love is most evident not
when it is offered to people the world regards as important. It is most evident when it is offered to
those who are overlooked or undervalued or out of the public eye.
Second, those who are great
in God’s kingdom are not motivated by the limelight. They do not crave rewards or adulation. They strive to embody what is kind and right
and good. If you honor and respect the king
you may be rewarded with earthly treasures, titles, and powers. But if you treat a child with kindness then
your only reward may be a hug or a smile.
But this is a sign of Jesus’ kingdom.
And, according to him, it will endure long after kings and worldly
riches fade away.
And third, Jesus’ enacted
parable teaches you are only as great as what the least respected person in
society has to say about you.
Presidential citations and papal blessings do not a Christian make. When a child knows your love and affirmation you
have done a great thing. When a hungry
person is feed because of your generosity you have done a great thing. When those who are sorrowful or suffering
receive your care and compassion you have done a great thing.
Greatness in God’s kingdom
does not look like the disciples squabbling over who is most important. It is about people like you and me receiving
all in the name of Christ. And the
reward for welcoming the least person is finding Christ revealed uniquely in and
through that person. This kind of
connection makes life rich and full and meaningful.
Now, lest you think I am blabbering
a bunch of church talk, but it does not actually connect with the real the
world, let me cite Lewis Howes, who built wealth out of want and is now the
host a very popular podcast called “The School of Greatness.” He offers eight tips to becoming great. One tip describes the importance of hard
work, another the need for vision and a sense of mission, still another talks
about the significance of integrity. Can
you guess what tip #8 is? Live a life of
Service!
Howes says this:
You can achieve
greatness by focusing on pursuing you own selfish interests, but it’s not going
to feel great. You’ll discover quickly
that greatness which only serves you is empty.
Build giving back and serving others into every part of your journey and
you’ll find fulfillment and happiness long before you reach your goal of
greatness.
He invites his listeners to
take on something called the Kindness Challenge. It involves doing a five-minute favor, an
hour-long favor, and a one-day favor. A five-minute
favor can be as simple as opening a door or holding an elevator for another
person. A one-hour favor can be writing several
glowing reviews on yelp, perhaps for your favorite restaurant, dentist, or church. A day long favor might involve offering your
professional skills for free to support a non-profit.
Kindness is defined as
doing something nice for someone else while expecting nothing in return. And yet, studies have found acts of kindness actually
benefit you. They improve personal relationships,
reduce stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, increase energy and
confidence, and generally make you feel better.
If any of this appeals to you, Jesus suggests you should welcome a
child.
