Christ on the cross is the last of all and the servant of all. He puts to shame all those with ambitions to be the first and the greatest.
Like most of us, the disciples of Jesus, for sure, have their ambitions. After all, they, too, have the right to be better.
Yet they have ambitions that they dare not tell him, though they make them plain among themselves. For such ambitions bring them shame. And rightly so, given that he has just spoken once more about his suffering, death and rising to come.
So, it is clear they do not understand him. Nor do they understand his saying that he must suffer and die a shameful death at the hands of the wicked. And their selfish ambitions do give away their lack of understanding. Hence, they should continue to walk and keep pace with him.
Ambitions that fit those who seek to be disciples.
And to walk with Jesus all the way means to have ambitions that have to do with this: to turn into interior men and women; to form a strong, holy, attachment to the service of God (SV.EN XII:82). This says, in part, that it counts more to be clean of hearts than to be clean outside.
Hence, our hearts should be free of envy and selfish ambitions that make for quarrels, fights, wars. From our hearts should no longer come evil thoughts and other evils that stain us.
To follow him till the end also means to get to know what to do here and now. For, no doubt, he gives light to the sincere who ask what he would do if he were in their place (SV.EN XI:314). He answers those who, like weak, helpless and simple children, ask him for help.
And as those whom he helps get to know his mercy, they catch it, too. So, they reach out to the weakest and to those who need help the most. They know, of course, that greed is folly. Last of all and the servants of all, they mean also to give up their bodies and shed their blood.
Lord Jesus, let all our ambitions go to show that we want to boast but in your cross. And as you comfort us in all our troubles, so may we comfort others in their troubles.
22 September 2024
25th Sunday in O.T. (B)
Wis 2, 12. 17-20; Jas 3, 16 – 4, 3; Mk 9, 30-37
