Jesus 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.” Mk 9:30-37
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle B
Disney is remaking the movie “Snow White”. But this time it is not anymore in cartoon but with real actors – as they did before with many of their previous animated movies. However, one would recall that “Snow White” was the first movie Disney had produced in technicolor. The story of Snow White is an old one but its message through centuries has always been true. Jealousy and ambition could drive one enough to harm or even kill.
Thus St. James warns us against ambition. For it is the cause of many quarrels inside any group even religious ones. “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war.” Jas 3:16—4:3
Such was the case among the twelve apostles. They were arguing among themselves on who should be the first. Jesus answered them clearly. “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Fortunately, their ambition was checked in time and did not lead to the horrible things St. James wrote about.
Servant Leadership is the right thing to do – albeit it is not what many people in the world are doing. Wisdom writer thus also warns us of possible danger upon servant leaders from those who do not follow this way. People could also do us harm because of this manner of life. “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” Wis 2:12, 17-20
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