25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) - 22 September
22nd September 2024
“Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.” - St Thérèse of Lisieux
A reflection on today's Gospel by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"The second overt announcement of His Passion was after the Transfiguration and the driving out of the demon from the young boy. The Master and His Apostles had turned toward Capharnaum. The many miracles that Our Blessed Lord had worked between Caesarea Philippi and Capharnaum put the Apostles in a high state of excitement. ‘All were amazed at this great evidence of God’s power’ (Luke 9:44). The Apostles began translating this power into the hope of an earthly royalty and human sovereignty, despite the severe lessons they were given about the Cross.
"Our Lord repeated clearly the prediction of Calvary so that when it did take place, His disciples would not be weak in their faith or abandon Him. The repeated declarations also assured them that He was not going to the Cross by constraint, but as a willing sacrifice.
"The second announcement of His death and glory provoked the second quarrel. As they walked back to Capharnaum, they disputed among themselves, but not within the hearing of Our Blessed Lord. ‘And the question arose among them, which of them was the greatest’ (Luke 9:46). How superficial must have been the impression that Our Lord made upon them about His death, as they still inquired among themselves about priority in what they imagined to be a political and economic setup called the Kingdom of God! From the lips of the Divine Master, they had heard something of His sufferings, but now they wrangled about rank. Possibly the high position given to Peter at Caesarea Philippi intensified the dispute. In any case, they quarrelled as they always did whenever He unveiled the Cross.
"Knowing that the crisis was at hand when He would establish the Kingdom, they were stirred by ambition. But Our Blessed Lord knew what was in their hearts; and when they came into the house at Capharnaum where they usually enjoyed hospitality, probably Peter’s: ‘He asked them, What was the dispute you were holding on the way? They said nothing, for they had been disputing among themselves which should be the greatest of them’ (Mark 9:32). Tongues that were loud on the roadway where they disputed were now silent when the Master read their thoughts and when their own consciences accused them. The little attention they paid to His words about the Cross might be the reason for their not grasping why One full of the power they had seen in His miracles and in the resurrection of the dead should ever be so seemingly powerless. Why should He submit Himself to a death from which at any moment He could extricate Himself? It was a mystery that could not be understood until it was accomplished; and even after its accomplishment, it still remained a scandal to unbelievers among the Jews and the Greeks
"Evidently, the natural or carnal man was geared to receive Him as One Who came to give a moral code such as could be posted on church lawns; but to take Him for One coming into the world as a ‘ransom’ for mankind required a higher wisdom. As St. Paul suggested: ‘Mere man with his natural gifts cannot take in the thoughts of God’s Spirit; They seem mere folly to him, and he cannot grasp them, because they demand a scrutiny which is spiritual’ (I Corinthians 2:14).
"This time, in order to correct their false ideas of superiority, with great solemnity He called a child to Himself. Since the Apostles had disputed as to who was highest in the Kingdom, Our Lord now gave the answer to their ambitious minds. The greatest of all His disciples would be those who would be like little children; for a child stands as a representative of God and His Divine Son upon the earth. There was a nobility in His Kingdom, but it was opposite to the rank of the world. In His Kingdom one rose by sinking; one increased by decreasing. He said that He came not to be ministered to, but to minister. In His own Person, He was exemplifying humiliation as ascending to the depths of defeat of the Cross. Since they understood not the Cross, He bade them to learn of a child whom He embraced to His heart. The greatest are the least, and the least are the greatest. Honour and prestige are not to him who sits at the head of the table, but to him who girds himself with a towel and washes the feet of those who are his servants. He who is God became man; He who is Lord of heaven and earth humbled Himself to the Cross; this was the incomparable act of humility which they were to learn. If for the moment they could not learn it from Him, they were to learn it from a child."
(Life of Christ)
Prayer for Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine. Grant me the grace to be truly humble and to always seek Your will above my own. Help me to recognise my dependence on You and to trust in Your providence. Give me the right wisdom so that I may remain childlike before You, because it is through humility that I will be able to serve the poor and the sick, the lonely and the destitute, and to discern and to do all that You desire me to do. Amen. 🙏💖💐