25th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B

September 23, 2012

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

Gospel reading: Mark 9,30-3730 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a

journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.

31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

35 Then he 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."

36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them,

37 "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."

The focus is on being the greatest.

Gospel reading: Mark 9,30-37Fate of the Son of Man, teaching not understood30 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a

journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Argument on the way: who is the greatest?33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,

he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

The greatest is the servant of all.35 Then he 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." 36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 "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."

A simple outline!

Textual Context of Mark 9,30-37Part I The Mystery of the Messiah: Revelation of Jesus' Person (1,14--

8,30)Three sections, each beginning with a summary of the activity of Jesus and

a narrative concerning the disciples and concluding with the adoption of an attitude in regard to Jesus.

A. Jesus and the Crowds 1,14--3,6 (1,14f, 16-20; 3,60)B. Jesus and his Own 3,7--6,6a (3,7-12.13-19; 6,1-6a)C. Jesus, the Disciples and the Gentiles 6,6b- 8,30 (6,6b; 6,7-31; 8,27-30)

Conclusion and Transition 8,27-33 Confession of Peter First Prophecy of the Passion Correction of Peter

Part II The Mystery of the Son of Man: Revelation of Jesus' sufferings 8,31-16,8

A. The Way of the Son of Man 8,31--10,52 Indicated by 3 announcements of the fate of the Son of Man and 3

instructions on the lot of the disciples.B. Jesus in Jerusalem 11,1--13,37C. Passion and Resurrection 14,1--16,8 The Later Ending 16,9-20

Jesus was teaching somewhere here.

v.33 They came to Capernaum

Gospel reading: Mark 9,30-37Fate of the Son of Man,

teaching not understood

30 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Commentary In v.30, Jesus and his disciples

leave the Mt. of Transfiguration and journey through Galilee.

Jesus wants to move incognito. In v.31, Jesus informs what will

happen to him (again):To be handed over to menThey will kill himHe will rise after 3 days.

In v.32, the author comments: they don’t understand; they

are afraid to ask.

Gospel reading: Mark 9,30-37

Who is the greatest?33 They came to

Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.

In v.33, they arrive at Capernaum (Jesus’ headquarters).

In v.33b, Jesus asks what the disciples were arguing about along the way.

The author, not the disciples, gives the answer in v.34b.About who is the greatest? A

different subject matter.

Gospel reading: Mark 9,30-37The greatest is the

servant of all.35 Then he 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."

36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 "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."

In v.35, Jesus takes this occasion to teach the Twelve about the greatest (the first).

He is the last of all, in the list.

He is the servant of all, not just of some. V.36

He receives the child in his name. (= receives also the Father) V.37

Reflections on the gospel readingJesus defines who is the greatest. The

greatest is the one who serves all, without distinction and discrimination, including little children.

Jesus serves all. He is the greatest, in his passion, death and resurrection.

The world has a different definition on who is the greatest:Materially well-offSuccessful in businessPrestigious, wields power

Reflections on the gospel readingThe greatest according to the world serves

only the ones who can give him more power, more money and more prestige.

They serve themselves.If we want to be the greatest, we are

obliged to serve everyone in the community, including those we don’t like.