Jesus leaves Galilee and begins His journey to Jerusalem where He will die and rise.  He is moving from the edge of Judaism.  Along the way He reminds His disciples what this confrontation will mean.  Again the disciples fail to grasp what He is saying.

Jesus tells them that the way to greatness lies not through advancing to higher positions but through taking the lowest position— and staying there.  Be servants, He tells them.  The competition of the disciples for top honors was exactly the opposite of what they should have been seeking as followers of Jesus.  True discipleship and true greatness mean humble service of others.

Notice the example He gives.  He brings a little child in front of them. He then talks not about the child, but about the person who cares for the child.  He says: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me, but the One who sent me.”  Jesus does not present the child as a model.  The model is the person who takes care of the child. In the Hebrew society, the child had no social status, therefore the child was considered unimportant.  Jesus is calling us to become the servant of those who are unimportant.

Serving the powerless is serving Jesus, and serving Jesus is serving God.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell