Wis 2:12, 17-20 Jas 3:16—4:3 Mk 9:30-37

The reading from Wisdom today can be seen as a precursor to how the Pharisees treated Jesus during his trial and crucifixion. It talks about testing the one sent to confront the Israelites on their transgressions. It even goes so far as to say that if he is the Son of God, then God will save him from his death.

Jesus ties into this when he tells the disciples in the Gospel “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him,” This the same as the reading from Wisdom saying, “Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”   

As we know Jesus is sentenced to be crucified which certainly is a shameful way to die. There are currently many ways that are shameful to be sentenced to death. The church believes that euthanasia, abortion and the death penalty are shameful ways to be killed.

With euthanasia we are saying that the suffering which the person is going through is not worth the expense or the need to watch someone suffer. In other words we know better than God when the persons life is to end.

With abortion the rallying cry is that the pregnant mother’s body is the autonomous being that decides how to deal with the new living being that is growing inside of her. She has the choice since it is her body, ignoring the fact that it is no longer just her body, but she is growing the body of another human being inside of her. With an abortion we snuff out this life before we can see what God may have had planned for this person to accomplish in their lifetime.

With the death penalty we have decided that the person convicted of whatever heinous crime deserves to die because of the horrific crime committed. We forget that God can work miracles within the heart and soul of those who call to him, even for repentance and forgiveness. 

Not one of these instances is justified in the eyes of the church. We do not know if the suffering of the person we would euthanize may be used to find the cure for a disease where currently there is no cure. We also don’t know that through their suffering that God may work through the spirit to bring someone close to them back into communion with their faith.

We don’t know if the aborted person would go on to become influential to the world through medicine, politics or entertainment.

We don’t know if that convicted person may not want to reconcile with God and in the process bring back to their faith others in prison.

With all of these things we seem to be more focused on ending a life rather than celebrating all human life, creating more a culture of death than a culture of life.

The reading from James today gives us some idea as to why we may believe this way, but it also gives us the way to overcome these tendencies.

Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.

We seem to be more concerned with our own ambitions, dreams and wants than watching out for those in need. As always though, Christ gives us a way to overcome these tendencies. He reminds the apostles, who were trying to figure out who was the greatest among them, that we are called to be a servant people. We are called to be the ones who help others before ourselves.

When we do this, we sow the seeds of life and hope among those we serve. This hope can be borne out in those who have participated in an abortion may come to believe that new life can bring not only hope to themselves but those around them.

This hope can be seen in Christ who shows us all how to suffer graciously on the Cross, that even in suffering faith and hope can not only survive but thrive. Through the redemption of the one who is on death row, can give each of us the hope of His mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus tells us in the Gospel today that;

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Children, especially younger children, look to us adults for the right way to lead our lives. They have an unabated trust in adults to do the right thing. As we get older and more involved outside of our family, we become more cynical and we can call into question the motives of those around us. There can certainly be some basis for this outlook, especially when we look at politics.

Children do not have this jaded outlook; they have utter trust that mom and dad as well as other adults around them have all the answers. With this trust inherent in them they have no problem in believing in Christ and those in religious life. Why does this trust and our hope in our faith fade over time? That discussion would take up too much time for any homily.

As we grow and mature we begin to believe that we know better and we begin to compete, just like the apostles, to become the greatest we can in our preferred occupation, sport or personal interest. This leads us down a path away from Christ because we are competing against others. I am not saying we should not strive to be the best we can be at whatever we choose. What I am trying to get across is when we compete to be the best and beat out others for the sake of pride we are going against Christ.

When I began formation to become a deacon, I went in with the mindset that I would be the best deacon from my class. I looked at it as a competition. As we began our studies I found that there were many subjects where there were others more knowledgeable than I was. Not surprising in hindsight. What I did notice though was a willingness of all within the group to share their experiences and their expertise to make us all better.

This mindset reminded me that we are to be servants first, and leaders second. Karen can tell you that there are times where I can become overloaded in trying to be servant to all who call on me. Luckily for me she sees this happening and calls me to remember that I am also called to be a husband, father and grandfather in order that my priorities remain in balance.

This servant leadership that Christ calls the apostles to in the Gospel today is a reminder that a servant leader can lead us back to promoting a culture of life. This servant leadership takes one big thing to move it forward. That thing is FAITH. We need faith that Christ’s words and example will lead us to be better people to not only those we like, but those we dislike as well. This faith is also what will allow us to have conversations with those who disagree with us on the whatever the hot button issues of the day are.

We need to rejuvenate our faith that God is with us all the time because He can make wonderful things happen when we have faith in him and let him work through us, but this takes a strong faith. I have been reminded many times that God can write straight with crooked lines.  How strong is your faith?