25 Sunday B Arguing along the way

Four minute homilies

Arguing along the way

We normally imagine Jesus walking with his apostles through out the Holy Land, going from one place to another, meeting people, performing miracles. When you walk in a large group, there are people in front, some at the centre and others right at the back. Different conversations develop and you can hear a bit from here and there. You change groups and catch up with different people. Jesus could hear a heated discussion behind him. When they reached Capernaum and sat down for a rest, Jesus asked them: “What were you discussing along the way?” They remained silent, embarrassed. It was a normal conversation that had become heated, and they said things they didn’t want Jesus to hear about. It happens to us. Many times we say things we regret afterwards. It reflects what we have in our minds. It is good to make sure we keep our minds clean, empty of vain thoughts and silly things. Pride always causes us trouble.

They were discussing who was the greatest, who was going to be the most important man in Jesus’ kingdom. There was a bit of competition among them, a normal attitude in a group of men. It was childish, like kids discussing whose dad is stronger, or who earns more money. Jesus took advantage of this opportunity to teach them a lesson in humility. He could have become discouraged, looking at the limitations of his apostles, but he knew them well. He chose them in spite of their shortcomings. The same thing happens to us. Jesus knows us well and loves us with our imperfections. We are as silly and immature as the apostles were.

Jesus is a good teacher. He wanted to give them a graphic lesson. He took one of the children who were running around the house and placed him in their midst. The boy suddenly became shy being the center of attention. Jesus embraced him and calmed him down. We can see the face of the child and the smile of his mother, proud of being chosen by the prophet. It reminds me of a powerful photo of John Paul II hugging a child with AIDS in the USA. We envy the child Jesus chose, which tradition says became Saint Martial. With the child in his arms, showing us a graphic image, Jesus said these mysterious words: “Unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

These are very strong words, with no way of interpreting them otherwise. He didn’t say “it will better for you”, or “I recommend it to you”, or “try this way”. He said “you will never”. He meant that to enter through the door of heaven you need to become small. To enter through the door of the Basílica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, you need to bow your head. You could say that purgatory is a way of diminishing, of getting rid of all the add ons that pride has managed to build on top. Jesus complemented these words with these ones: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Imagine a race where the winner is the last one.

I remember some words from the book of Proverbs, written on the front of an altar close to the tabernacle: “My delight is to play with the children of men.” God loves playing with us and we need to learn to play with him. Many time his game is not of our liking. The only way to do it is being what we are on front of him: his children.

[e-mail]