Deacon Tom writes
“Numero Uno”
One of telltale signs that we struggle to embrace Jesus’
message “to become the least” is the
fact that we do all that we can to be the first… to be the best… the greatest,
the center of attention. We want to be in the limelight; we want the bigger
piece of the pie. Yet, today, Jesus’ instructions are clear: the only way we get to the head of the
line is by seeking to be the last one in it! “If anyone wishes to be first”, he says, “he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”. That’s how things operate in the
Kingdom of God. It was the behavior of his closest disciples that prompted
Jesus to pass this teaching on to us. In today’s gospel we hear that an
argument broke out among his disciples as to who was “Numero Uno”. This happened
right after Jesus revealed what’s going to happen to him when they get to
Jerusalem. “He will be handed over to men and they will kill him…but in three days
he will rise”. How callous of
his followers to be so dismissive of Jesus’ horrific prophesy! Imagine how
anguished we would be if, while we were bearing our souls to a close friend,
they were disengaged and self-absorbed. There is just no imaginable way to
describe how hurt and distraught we would feel‼!
Jesus made many references to the
fact that the Kingdom of Heaven was ordered a bit differently than our
experience here in this temporal realm. In God’s kingdom ….the first shall be
last, the hungry will be satisfied, the broken, crushed, dispossessed and
sorrowing will be comforted. And forever, the peacemakers will be held in high
esteem….!
Those are some powerful promises,
and yet, given the state of the world, some of our inner city neighborhoods,
and even our family, one can’t help wonder if we are doing all that we can to
ease the plight of the poor, the neglected, those who are suffering through
this life? Why aren’t we looking
to “store up treasures in heaven” (Mt
6:20) by helping the worst of the worst?
Are we confused about the significance of Jesus’ teachings? Matthew, Chapter 25 makes it pretty
clear… “Whatever you do to the least of
my brothers and sisters, you do to me?”…Or, are we, like the disciples in
today’s gospel more distracted with our own concerns and interests than the
suffering and hopelessness of many of those around us?
It is very difficult to die to
self, to take up the crosses of our lives and unite them with that of Christ.
That is why we need to learn from the Master, to follow in his footsteps, and
practice every day to love and serve each other, as Christ has loved us, even
unto death. That is one way to show others that Christ truly is “Numero Uno” in
our lives.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Image from
– lailas blog.com
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