M any times we are tested to be selfish but we must respond and follow Jesus by following his example: by being understanding, tolerant, loving, fair, non-judgmental with all whom we meet. 

Monday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time

Zechariah 8:1-8

Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23

L uke 9:46-50 And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. (47) But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, (48) and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great." (49) John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us." (50) But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you."

Meditation by Paul Mahowald, S.J.

St. Luke’s ninth chapter is filled with familiar and important stories. Then the chapter ends with a disappointing surprise, at least for Jesus.  First there is the missioning of the twelve. Then the multiplication of loaves, and then the intimate sharing with Peter in his “confession” – that Jesus indeed is the Messiah. This is followed by Jesus’ prediction of his own passion and death and his entry into the Kingdom of God .

Then two more stories follow:  the uplifting transfiguration and then a cure of a demoniac All this is followed by yet another prophecy by Jesus of his passion and death. (In our liturgical readings this past week we have read only the two episodes when Jesus is telling his disciples that he will suffer and die.)

After all this in chapter nine St. Luke then gives us the surprising and disappointing story which we read in today’s gospel.

The ambition and vanity of the twelve is shown because the disciples wanted to be known as the greatest among themselves in the Kingdom of God. Jesus responds by simply placing a young child in their midst to show them and humble them: “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me . . . the least among all of you is the one who is the greatest!”

How do we apply to ourselves this surprising bit of blind ambition by the twelve coupled with Jesus’ simple response of humility?  After all these uplifting stories in Luke, chapter nine, why do the twelve show such selfishness and pettiness? 

Well, we all need to examine our own consciousness, don’t we?  We also like to be highly esteemed, to be powerful, to be in complete control of our own destiny.  But we also as Christians profess “to take up our cross and follow Jesus.”  Many times we are tested to be selfish but we must respond and follow Jesus by following his example: by being understanding, tolerant, loving, fair, non-judgmental with all whom we meet. 

Doing this is not so easy and that is the “cross” that we are asked to take up as we follow Jesus.  We so easily gossip about others, hold grudges for long times, and are unforgiving even as we call upon the Lord to forgive us again and again.  He does this because he loves us but we don’t forgive others because we lack this love for others.

Above all we should have faith and trust in Jesus that in spite of all our poor efforts to follow him, he still will save us so that our hoped-for goal of union in love with him in his Kingdom will be fulfilled.  But whatever position we happen to receive when we finally get to heaven is certainly a gift from God that we certainly don’t deserve but gladly accept.

Supplemental Reading

NEW WINESKINS

New wine should be put into new wineskins. – Luke 5:38

It has been six years since our company started. We named it New Wineskins Ventures. I had been led to name the company this way because new wine is another name of the Holy Spirit and we want the company to be molded and led by Him.

Looking back, we see that the company has lived up to its name. For the past six years, our laborers have not formed a union because of their harmonious relationship with us. The company earned profits and we shared it with them. We’ve also satisfied our customers such that some of them have entrusted us to be their sole supplier. And for the last four years, the government has awarded us as the top taxpayer in our BIR region.

We have peace with our stakeholders — the workers, our customers and the government. Peace is our reward for allowing the Holy Spirit to be our management director. And when the management is happy, it grants bonuses! Donna España

REFLECTION:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Father, I thank You for sending down the Holy Spirit to guide me through all my endeavors so that they bear fruit.

For meditation/readings for the past days/months, please click any of the following links:

http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html

http://butuanglobalforum.org/cgi-bin/dboard/YaBB.pl?num=1229339492/220

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!

PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

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