Word to the Wise
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 - Tuesday in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time
[Sir 2:1-11 and Mark 9:30-37]"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, receives not me but the One who sent me."
Part of the significance of Jesus' gesture with the child has to do with his reprimand of the disciples for arguing about position in the kingdom of heaven. A child in Jesus' time had no rights whatever. A child would indeed be the "least in the kingdom." So, anyone who reached out to the least of all would be reaching out to Jesus himself! Since people in Jesus' time who had any position in society were inclined to be very status-conscious, it is clear that Jesus expected his disciples to get rid of any notion of "importance" and rank.
Many people around the world have been impressed with the "style" of Pope Francis who has reached out in so many ways to the "least in the kingdom." Perhaps we can find in him an example for ourselves. He is challenging the church to be a church for the poor. His daily preaching at the chapel in the building where he is living (not in the palatial former apartment occupied by his predicessors) is being sent around the world daily, and he is striking a theme of simplicity and openness that is very appealing. He may well be acting like Jesus did with the disciples in today's gospel passage. Perhaps we should pay attention. AMEN