Twenty-fifth Sunday B in Ordinary Time

Jesus’ words lost nothing of meaning and power. They are still valid today. A person who is fighting for power, position, should not forget them. Being the first, something to have fulfilled and will always fill a person. Olympics, trials, races, competitions in all areas of life are marked by the goal of being the first. There is nothing wrong with being appropriate to the circumstances. Unfortunately, often trying to be the first destroys friendships, relationships with others. We even know from history how the unbridled desire to be the greatest or the first led humanity to concentration camps, prisons … Just remember Hitler or Stalin. Then it happens that a person does not stop at anything, nothing is sacred to him. Therefore, Jesus’ words, “Whoever wants to be first, let him be the last and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35), are a current memento. Many of Jesus’ words evoked resentment from the beginning. Jesus did not admire. Vice versa. He proves his mission with words and life. He tells the disciples in Galilee that “the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him. But the slain shall rise again after three days.” (Mark 9:31) He wants to avoid saying that he is a lover of suffering and will ask his people to love hell as well. Vice versa. He wants to say: Don’t be afraid! No evil and suffering are more vital than God’s love for people. By his passion and death, Jesus is an example of love for people. He, the God in the human body, who is the First, dies for the sins of all. Jesus served all people. He reconciled them to the Father.
Jesus does not write on the way to Jerusalem, but puts a message in the hearts of the disciples: “The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him. But the slain shall rise again after three days.” (Mark 9:31) These words are part of the good news. It is essential to Jesus before his death that the apostles understand and teach the message correctly. Nevertheless, they “quarreled among themselves which way was greater” (Mark 9:34). They did not yet know like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, James, and John when she begged Jesus to have her sons at his right and left once in his Kingdom. Jesus, following the example of a child who is small and is served by an adult, points to the practice of apostles and once all who believe in Christ: “He who wants to be first, let him be the last, and be the servant of all” (Mk 9, 35) Jesus does not remove ambition from the life of the apostles but directs it in the right direction. He replaced the ambition to rule over others and use others for himself with the aspiration to serve others. He returned the purpose of receiving from others with the ambition of giving. “It is happier to give than to receive” (Acts 20:3We have many positive, encouraging examples.

The history of Sparta tells of Paedators. Elections for the city administration were held in Sparta, and Paedaretos was one of the candidates for the city’s 300-member men’s council. When they announced the election result, his name was not among the chosen ones. A friend told him, “What a pity they didn’t choose you, the people should have known how wise the steward you could be.” he is a legend over whom jealousy did not prevail, and he knew how to give place to others.

Great people will enrich the world. They do not ask: what can I get from society for myself, but think about improving culture. He made a similar statement after the Kennedy oath of office. The Lord Jesus, in the words, “Whoever wants to be first, let him be the last and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35), gives one of the “best” likes in the world.

Knowing these words of Jesus, we do not have to set out on a journey as a man in an old Eastern legend who wanted to find the meaning of his life. For a long time, he could not find a job where he would be happy, satisfied and others would be satisfied and confident with him then. Once on a hot day, he sat down under a tree on the side of the road. He noticed a man working in the heat, under the hot sun. The man could see his satisfaction and confidence. When he asked the man a secret, he replied, “I am happy because I am doing my job, and I am thinking of a God who cares for all people, and I want to serve him.” to find joy and happiness. ”

The apostles would never be happy if they argued, “Which of them is greater” (Mark 9:34). And the answer? “Whoever wants to be first, let him be the last and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Man is great only when he serves, when he can renounce his self-love when he does not exploit others when he offers rule over others. In all areas of the human family, this is true, but it is a benefit.
When spouses live for each other and together for children, they keep the words of Jesus; they find significant enrichment of their love. When Jesus’s words, “Whoever wants to be first, let him be the last and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35), are fulfilled in the workplace and society, all will find enrichment and joy in life. When they serve their children, parents are not masters; on the contrary, when children see their example, love grows. He cannot love those who cannot serve.

On April 28, 1962, Dr. Ginna Beretta Molla died at the fourth birth of her child. As a doctor, she knew that her pregnancy was difficult and would probably end in death. The doctors confirmed to her: either she or the child would live. She told her doctor – colleagues at the time. “It is my duty to fulfill my mother’s mission. I’m ready for anything. My baby has to live.” When the time of childbirth came, she knew she would die. Emmanuela was born. Her mother could still see her, put her on her chest, and – she died. John Paul II declared this woman blessed. In addition to Emmanuela, her three siblings, their father, the Blessed husband, also took part in the beatification of St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

Dr. Ginna Bertta Molla fulfilled the message of Jesus in the service of her child’s life. Serving people is not easy. And that is why it is appropriate not only to remember it but also to work on yourself. To learn the doctrine of Jesus: “Whoever wants to be first, let him be the last and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). He survived alone. We rightly understand the message of the Lord Jesus in words: Do not be afraid! A faithful witness of Jesus’ love is not afraid to be a minister – a servant. I respect and honor everyone, and he sees brothers and sisters in his neighborhood and not subordinates…We are praying: Lord, open our eyes so that we may discover your face in the faces of brothers and sisters. Open our hearts so that we can show them love, and let us receive their love as our enrichment…

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