Word to the Wise
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - Tuesday in the 7th Week in Ordinary Time
[Sir 2:1-11 and Mark 9:30-37]My son, when you come to serve the Lord, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials....Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein. "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." [Mark]
The gospel scripture for today features one of Jesus' predictions of his suffering, death and resurrection. It also features the Twelve who fail to understand that prediction and are consumed with their individual status in the group. In other places in the gospels, Jesus warns the disciples to expect to be treated in much the same way he will be treated. It is part of the overall message of the Gospel According to Mark that the disciples failed to understand Jesus' true identity until his death and resurrection. What the disciples would be preaching would be challenging to the understanding of the world, and that world may react with hostility. What will convince people more than anything else would be humble service and care that demonstrate the kind of trust in God that is featured in the scripture from the Book of Sirach today.
There is a popular prayer called "the Serenity Prayer" which says, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." Anyone called to the service of the People of God should know and say that prayer! The Twelve and other disciples, including all of us today, need that serenity, courage and wisdom, whether it be in personal relationships or in leadership! AMEN