Gospel of Mark, chapter 9:34

The scene at the beginning of today’s gospel is the height of drama. Jesus announces His mission to His followers: Namely to fulfill God’s will by enduring suffering and death. You can almost feel the tension is the air but then the scene quickly deteriorates into ironic comedy. The disciples not only don’t get it, they begin bickering about who is the greatest among them!

Jesus, however, doesn’t allow His disciples to get away with their misinterpretation and ensuing childishness. Instead, He takes advantage of the situation to teach them that true greatness is coextensive of the situation to teach them that true greatness is coextensive with service. In contrast to their childishness, Jesus urges His followers to be childlike, to present themselves in service to others. In the end, Jesus rescues His followers by linking what He is about to do with the image of the child. He calls upon those who would follow Him to become childlike rather than childish, to be open and responsive to God’s love.

Fr. Hugh Duffy