Gospel reflection for Sept. 22, 2024, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is a subtle geographical movement in the Gospel over the past few weeks. Jesus took the disciples to the highest and most northern area of the Galilee and it was there that Peter professed Jesus as the Messiah. Now, they have descended from there and begin the walk to Jerusalem. Jesus is leading them on what is effectively a pilgrimage to bear witness to what we call the Paschal Events. The tone of his teaching is now more direct and somber. Yet, they are not disposed to being prepared and instead to concern themselves with the power they think they will have when Jesus becomes the King of Jews in Jerusalem.
One has to wonder what the impact of their journey had on their thinking and their conversation. Jesus has been teaching them along the way. St. Mark notes that he had emphasized repeatedly that the Son of Man had to suffer and to die for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Who is this “Son of Man” about whom Jesus spoke?
The disciples of Jesus, aware of the texts of the prophets and the other sacred writings of the Jewish people, would have understood the imagery of the Son of Man much differently than they did subsequently and as we do now. Having just testified that Jesus is the Christ, Peter and the others would not have drawn the conclusion that he was the Son of Man. Hence, the teaching of Jesus here about the fate of the Son of Man would not have been clear to them.
What makes this passage so interesting is the disconnect between the teaching of Jesus as to the betrayal and murder of the Son of Man and the conversation recounted here between them regarding who is the greatest among them.
So, the question must be raised as to the nature of this disconnect. How did the disciples move from the teaching of Jesus to their own mundane concerns?
It makes some sense, perhaps, on the psychological level. Jesus has certainly gotten more ominous in his teaching than he had before. Through Peter they have come to understand that Jesus is the Messiah and has a particular mission. So, instead of paying attention to his teaching about the nature of the mission or making the connection between his mission and that of the Son of Man, they moved on to thinking about themselves.
We have to ask, though, why this juxtaposition? What sent the disciples to have this conversation?
It is interesting to note that the Gospels do not spend much ink on ordinary conversations. We do not know what else they spoke about as they traveled along. We know very little about the general conversations that Jesus had with them as they walked along, or as they reclined at their evening meals. Therefore, it is the lesson of this conversation that draws our attention.
Who among them was the greatest?
Such a question sounds very schoolyard like, and one that is not uncommon in the workplace. The very thought to even begin to talk about this subject is borne of jealousy. The 12 had just witnessed Peter identifying Jesus as the Messiah. There must have been someone else there who felt that he was capable of giving the same answer, or had the same thought, but Simon Peter, known to be a bit impetuous, said it first. Peter got all of the attention, and now seems to be the preferred disciple. Sometimes it is Peter, James and John who get called to spend time with Jesus apart from the others. This, too, might invoke jealousy among them, perhaps even lead to some bitterness.
Jesus interrupts and instructs them: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Those are hard words to hear. The disciples associated the Kingdom of God with power; Jesus associated the Kingdom of God with service. The disciples wanted to be first, Jesus tells them that they have to be last. They wanted to be the best, he told them they have to be the least.
It is not easy for us. It is especially difficult when we get accolades for the work we do — as a lector, religious educator, cantor, preacher, or presider at liturgy — then we can be led to think that it belongs to us, when instead, it all belongs to Jesus himself.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.