Fr Marco Lazzaron
he readings of today speak of a behaviour that, unfortunately, sometimes involves each one of us: neutralizing those who annoy us, those who in some way present themselves as an obstacle to our projects, and doing everything to be the first.
The letter of St. James presents us with two opposing lifestyles: “Where there is jealousy and a spirit of contention there is disorder and all sorts of bad actions. The wisdom that comes from above, however, is gentle, compliant, full of mercy”. True wisdom is expressed in love, peace, and meekness.
In the Gospel, Jesus, as already in last Sunday’s passage, speaks of his passion in the most complete indifference of the apostles who discuss who among them is the greatest, here too showing their poverty of faith. Seeking success, imposing oneself on others are manifestations of a profound misunderstanding of the Christian message. On the other hand, Jesus’ plan leads instead to the path of service: “If anyone wants to be the first, let him be the servant of all”.
They are words that target our selfish instincts, which overturn the criteria of our human behaviour. The Gospel highlights the nature of the conflict that led Jesus to the cross, which is that of the logic of service to the weakest, most defenseless men: Jesus invites us to become children and welcome them in his name because whoever welcomes simplicity, tenderness, goodness, spontaneity, essentiality welcomes God himself, who manifests himself in this way. The little ones, the last ones have no voice or power, welcoming them means welcoming Jesus himself.
Jesus also tells us that it is not forbidden to want to be first, in fact it is possible, he encourages it, but it is the way of achieving it that is different from what we think: it is not putting oneself against others, but putting oneself at their service, according to logic of gift and not of power.
Wisdom, love that leads to peace, and service are the messages that today’s readings leave us to walk through our lives in the places where we find ourselves: in the family, in the workplace, in our communities because only if we are capable of making these invitations our own, we will also be capable of growing in love and welcoming Jesus where he is found and manifests himself.
For reflection as a couple and as a family.
– How much wisdom (gift from God) and how much cunning (fruit of survival) is there in our life at home, at work…?
– Every day we are faced with acts of arrogance: as believers, what are our reactions?