25th Sunday of the Year, B – 22 September 2024.
Readings: Wisdom 2:12.17-20; Ps 53:3-6,8; James 3:16-4:3; Gospel – Mark 9:30-37.
The first reading recounts how the wicked prepare to ambush the just man. The second reading warns against jealousy and selfish ambition. In the Gospel, Jesus cautions his disciples about seeking places of honour. He reveals his passion by redirecting their attention to servant leadership as the model kind of leadership for all times.
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, our liturgy presents us with the suffering servant who embraces servant leadership for the sake of humanity. It speaks to acting with wisdom and compassion and modeling our leadership based on the values of the kingdom as exemplified by Christ who gave his life as a ramson for many (Cf. Matthew 20:28).
Background & Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Wisdom 2:12.17-20) recounts how the wicked prepare to ambush the just man. It reveals that they carry out this plan because the ways of the righteous annoy them – He reproaches them for their breaches of the law. They plot to see how the good man will end. They exploit the gentleness and righteousness of the suffering servant who lays down his life for his sheep.
The second reading (James 3:16-4:3)Â warns against jealousy and selfish ambition. It attributes rancour and disharmony to a lack of wisdom and compassion. It suggests that selfish ambition is responsible for unanswered prayers since those prayers are ill-motivated.
In the Gospel (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus cautions his disciples about seeking places of honour. Accordingly, he reveals his passion by redirecting their attention to servant leadership as the model kind of leadership that is other-oriented and embraces suffering for the good of all. He uses childlike simplicity to challenge all to embrace the kingdom by seeking to serve all.
Pastoral Lessons
- Be eternally vigilant: Our liturgy invites us to seek eternal vigilance and prayer instead of being scandalised in the face of suffering bearing in mind that traitors are still very much with us.
- Avoid jealousy and selfish ambition: St. Paul invites us to act with wisdom and compassion by avoiding jealousy and selfish ambition because these vices cause rancour and disharmony.
- Pray with pure intentions: St. Paul urges us to pray with pure intentions because that is what God wants to grant our heart desires.
- Embrace childlike simplicity: Christians are charged to embrace the values of the kingdom by being self-effacing and embracing childlike simplicity in service of others.
- Take to servant leadership: Lumen Gentium numbers 25, 26, 27 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church number 896 challenge contemporary leaders to model their lives unto Christ the servant leader who came to serve not to be served and laid down his life as a ransom for many.
Summary Lines
- The first reading recounts how the wicked prepare to ambush the just man.
- The second reading warns about jealousy and vain ambition.
- It attributes rancour and disharmony to a lack of wisdom and compassion.
- In the Gospel, Jesus cautions his disciples about seeking places of honour.
- He reveals his passion by redirecting their attention to servant leadership as the model kind of leadership.
Conclusion
As children, youths, and adults, we are reminded that we can only change the world if we seek the welfare of others. Since Jesus demonstrated that servant leadership is not rocket science, those who occupy positions of authority in the Church or larger society must ensure that they imitate him. In this respect, authoritarian regimes around the world ought to have a rethink. As the moral voice of society, the burden lies on the Church to continually show direction in servant leadership. Happy Sunday!
