Friars Corner: Jesus calls us to be his humble servants
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
My friends, as Jesus called his followers, we are brothers and sisters in God’s kingdom. Jesus said we were his friends since he continues to teach us about God’s plan and life in his kingdom. As friends, we can rejoice in all God continues to offer us even though the clouds of evil are heavy in some places.
At Sunday Masses and also daily ones, we continue to tell the gospel stories about Jesus and at times read directives about our Christian life. This year in cycle B we are a little beyond the halfway point in St. Mark. Jesus had attracted countless followers with his healings and teachings. Now, for the second time, Jesus told his closest followers that his earthly life would end in rejection, death and resurrection three days later. How could they know that? They were talking about who was the most important.
Humility of a child
Jesus gathered the twelve around him teaching them that whoever wants to rank first must remain last and the servant of all. Then Jesus put a child in the center of them and said, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever received me, receives not me but the One who sent me,” his Father.
Let us keep a humble stance in following Jesus and staying in the church Jesus founded. We don’t want to cause division as St. James spoke about in the second reading today.
Attributes of wisdom
The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits. Let us be as positive with the graces of the Holy Spirit and stay as close to Jesus as the petals of a daisy are to its crown. The power to do this comes from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, reading the gospels and our daily prayer life. Positive thoughts bring me benefits and advantages we desire.
Have a blessed week,
(© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
