Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 22, 2024

Date: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

In today’s gospel from Mark, Jesus reveals his passion, death and resurrection for a second time. After revealing how He would serve as humanity’s redeemer, He realizes that the disciples are arguing about which is the greatest. Jesus brings it back around to service by telling the disciples that being “the first” means waiting until last and serving others all the while.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I possess a servant mindset? How do I receive others? It is openly and warmly or suspiciously and judgmentally.

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten Son to dwell among us as our brother and to redeem us from our sins and gain for us life in abundance. It was your will that He selflessly sacrifice Himself to atone for our sins. He calls us as His disciples and to put on the apron of humility and serve You and one another for love of You. Send your Spirit to stir within us and awaken within us the spirit of servant and disciple. Grant that we may live into the children You created us to be, the disciples Christ calls us to be, the living presence of the LORD at work in this world that the Spirit gifts us and guides us to be. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.