Fwd: LUKE 9:46-50: MONDAY'S GOSPEL FOR REFLECTION
Obi OBIEKWE
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
For: Monday, September 28, 1998
Luke 9:46-50:
Humility and Tolerance
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[46] And an argument arose among them (the disciples) as to which of
them was the greatest. [47] But when Jesus perceived the thoughts of
their hearts, He took a child and put him by His side, [48] and said to
them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever
receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you all
is the one who is great."
[49] John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in Your
name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us." [50] But
Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you
is for you."
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Commentary:
46-48. Jesus takes a child in His arms to give His Apostles example and
to correct their too-human ambitions, thereby teaching all of us not to
make ourselves important. "Don't try to be a grown-up. A child,
always a child, even when you are dying of old age. When a child
stumbles and falls, nobody is surprised; his father promptly lifts him
up. When the person who stumbles and falls is older, the immediate
reaction is one of laughter. Sometimes this first impulse passes and
the laughter gives way to pity. But older people have to get up by
themselves.
"Your sad experience of each day is full of stumbles and falls.--What
would become of you if you were not continually more of a child? Don't
want to be grown-up. Be a child; and when you stumble, may you be
lifted by the hand of your Father-God" ([Blessed] J. Escriva, "The
Way", 870).
49-50. Our Lord corrects the exclusivist and intolerant attitude of the
Apostles. St. Paul later learned this lesson, as we can see from what
he wrote during his imprisonment in Rome: "Some indeed preach Christ
from envy and rivalry, but others from good will [...]. What then?
Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is
proclaimed; and in that I rejoice" (Philippians 1:15, 18). "Rejoice,
when you see others working in good apostolic activities. And ask God
to grant them abundant grace and that they may respond to that grace.
Then, you, on your way: convince yourself that it's the only way for
you" ([Blessed] J. Escriva, "The Way", 965).
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