Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)
September 20, 2015 11:00 am · Sergio Muñoz Fita
Today's Gospel is often used to teach about humility and service. I'd like to reflect instead on a very important aspect of our Christian life in light of today's readings. Something that we tend to forget. The calling to greatness. We love to say that everyone is called to be Holy, that our vocation consists of obtaining perfection, just as Christ taught in Scripture. Be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect. What does that exactly mean?
Today's Gospel passage is usually interpreted as if Jesus were rebuking his Disciples because they had been discussing among themselves who was the greatest. Jesus, in this interpretation corrects the Disciples by placing a child in their midst, and His words are interpreted something like this: You are concerned about who is the first one, but the truth is that you shouldn't have that mindset. Look, wanting to be the first one, is not right, it is prideful. You must desire to take the last place. In my opinion, this interpretation is inaccurate. There is something that makes no sense to me. If Jesus is speaking about service, and He said we have to be a servant of all, why does he place that child in their midst? I don't honestly think a child is a good example of service, quite the opposite. Children need to be served by their parents.