Give preference to others.

Jesus talks about it in the Gospel. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35).

Jesus touched the mindset and opinions of his disciples many times with his words. This is also told in the conversation with the disciples after arriving in Capernaum, when on the way they talked about “which of them is greater” (Mk 9:34). Jesus clearly and radically clarifies how much the orders in the kingdom of God differ from their average of human thinking. The thinking of the disciples was simple. When they said “which of them is greater” (Mk 9:34), they were probably thinking of something like ministerial chairs at the office of the Messiah. They had the idea that they would certainly be some kind of leader. Probably the impetus for the conversation was that Jesus sometimes took Peter, James, and John aside. The disciples are still marked by ambition. A change occurs when Jesus asks: “What were you talking about on the way” (Mk 9:33)? The apostles are silent. Jesus is God and knows everything, and therefore he strongly admonishes them, pointing out that greatness in the kingdom of God is gained by service.

There is a significant difference between a purely human, natural procedure and what applies in the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God, service has a dominant place – but not to the powerful and higher, but to the least, the last; and therefore Jesus places a child in the middle. The child symbolizes – what is small, insignificant, and weak. The disciples are instructed that what is done in this seemingly insignificant place to man is as valuable as if the service were rendered to the Father himself. Being able to realize these words of Jesus is very difficult. Only the one who learns to act in the name of Jesus can do it, to whom God has become so great that he no longer has to look for himself, but has room for God. In the kingdom of this world, it is useful to bow down to those who are superior, to those who have power, fame, and money…In the Kingdom of God, only the one who takes care of such “little ones” has value, but that naturally does not mean that we exclude the respect of higher-ranking, superiors and the like. This also includes respect, gratitude, attention, and the like. The extent and way to take care of the “poorest” is determined by time and other circumstances of the time and environment. It is necessary to understand things in the spirit that we do to Jesus himself.

Jesus showed us the way. It is the path of humility. A person should be able to recognize his weakness or smallness. The value and dignity of a person do not lie in the fact that someone is a person, but in the fact that he is a man of God. The label “God” conditions humanity more. To be aware that being human is the decision of God, who created me in His image and likeness.

How do I stand when others are favored? Can I step back and let others take the lead? Can I be happy when others excel, are better, and are more successful? Jesus reminds us: “Whoever wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35). Meaning: the more someone is needed, the more valuable his position is. Titles and status do not determine primacy. The most needed are those, who know how to quietly perform service for others. Jesus appreciates a service attitude. Jesus’ attitude of service should affect us too. He came to serve and not to be served. When I put others before myself, consciously and voluntarily, and out of love, I will be even more of a gift to others.

The world requires not only productive people but also those who quietly, in the background, fulfill the will of God. Honors, places of honor, glory, what the world notices today, and what the people of this earth long for, let us leave to others, let us ask ourselves to be faithful to the vocation to serve. Suggestion for adoption: To act in such a way that, by serving others, I follow Christ.