25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 20, 2009

Wis 2:12, 17-20
Jas 3:16-4:3
Mk 9:30-37

The Right Combination for Greatness!

In the field of sports, at this very day, Juan Marquez, the numero uno boxer in Mexico,  and Floyd Mayweather , Jr, the number one boxer in the United States are engaging each other inside the ring in order to prove who is the best and number one boxer. Also at present, in the politcal field, the administration and opposition parties are figuring out whom are they going to field as their best presidential and vice presidential candidates.

In either field, there has to be a right combination of several elements in order for one to emerge as the  winner, the number one, the greatest. A boxer who combines speed and power is more likely to end as the winner. In Philippine politics, a candidate who combines money and influence has a better chance of winning.

The same contest also happens in our gospel for today. The disciples are arguing who is the greatest among themselves. And Jesus told them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

There are two important elements for greatness that Jesus mentioned in this passage. First is HUMILITY. "One has to be "the last of all." The other is SERVICE. " One has to be the "servant of all."  The right combination of these two elements is the  key for greatness in the eyes of God  and in the eyes of those practicing Christians. Service rendered with humility more often is the right kind of service for it does not require affirmation and gratitude from the one being served. Only the service of a humble individual is of great value thus making  him/her great  for it does not wait for a reward. Humble service then    is a concrete way of accepting the little ones and thus gaining the acceptance of the greatest servant of all, Jesus Christ. “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.”

Fr. Gerry Gudmalin
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Mission
Pasil Catholic Mission
Lubuagan, Kalinga