Twenty-Fifth Sunday of the year (Year B)

 Twenty-Fifth Sunday of the year – September 22, 2021

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

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A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man “come, I will show you hell.” They entered a room where a group of hungry people sat around a huge pot of cooking stew. Everyone in the room was starving. Each person held a spoon that reached the pot but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their own arms that it could not be used to get the stew into their own mouths. The suffering was terrible. “Come now, I will show you heaven,” the Lord said.  They entered a room identical to the first, the big pot of stew, the group of people and the same long-handled spoons. But here everyone was happy and well-nourished. “I don’t understand,” said the man. “Why is everyone happy here and miserable in the other room? Everything is the same.” “Here, said the Lord, they have learned to SERVE each other.”

As we delve into these readings, we are confronted with a stark contrast between the values of the world and the values of the kingdom of God. The world often equates success with wealth, power, and influence. We see this in the first reading, where the wicked view the righteous as obstacles to their ambitions. They plot against them, believing that by eliminating the just, they can secure their own status and comfort.

However, the wisdom literature reminds us that true success is not measured by material gain but by our relationship with God and our commitment to justice and righteousness. The righteous may face persecution and hardship, but they are ultimately aligned with God’s will, which is the source of true peace and fulfilment.

In the Gospel, Jesus provides us with the ultimate example of humility and service. After revealing the gravity of His mission—His impending suffering and death—He turns the disciples’ attention away from their own ambitions. They had been arguing about who among them was the greatest, a reflection of their misunderstanding of His mission and the nature of His kingdom.

By placing a child in their midst, Jesus illustrates that greatness in God’s kingdom is not about status or power but about humility and service. In the ancient world, children were often seen as the least among society—vulnerable and dependent. To welcome a child is to embrace those who are marginalized and powerless. It is a call to serve rather than to be served.

Jesus invites us as he called his disciples to understand his person and mission. Through all his life, through everything that constitutes the very essence of his person, Jesus is the Christ, the one whom God chose to bring to the world the life-giving Spirit, the Spirit who is Lord and who gives Life, as we say in the Creed. As the son of God, he would live forever and give life to the world.  When the disciples wanted the prime place in his Kingdom Jesus does not condemn the desire to be first. What Jesus condemns is the act of speaking and communicating this desire to others. For this desire can very well come from God himself. Jesus did indeed have the desire to be the first, for God wanted it to be so. But he did nothing against those who brought him down to the lowest rank, putting him on the same level as bandits and criminals.  He then told them they have to be like a little child open to God and persons with a new vision of life.

As we reflect on these readings, we are challenged to examine our own lives. Are we caught up in the pursuit of worldly success? Do we measure our worth by our possessions, our status, or our achievements? Jesus invites us to a different way of living—one that prioritizes humility, service, and love for others.

In our families, workplaces, and communities, how can we embody this spirit of service? It may be as simple as offering a listening ear to someone in need, volunteering our time for those less fortunate, or advocating for justice in our society. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, contributes to the building of God’s kingdom on earth.

Moreover, we must be vigilant against the temptations of jealousy and selfish ambition. When we find ourselves comparing our lives to others or feeling envious of their success, let us remember the words of James and seek the wisdom that comes from above. This wisdom leads us to peace and unity rather than division.

As we continue our journey of faith, let us strive to embody the values of the kingdom of God. May we seek to serve rather than to be served, to lift up the marginalized, and to embrace humility in all our interactions. Let us remember that true greatness is found in our willingness to love and serve others, just as Christ has loved and served us.

In this Eucharistic celebration, let us ask for the grace to live out these teachings in our daily lives. May we be transformed by the love of Christ and empowered to be instruments of His peace in a world that so desperately needs it.

Happy Sunday