25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 9:30-37
“But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him”. This is the situation of the disciples to whom Jesus himself was explaining the things. The reason we can find out in the following passage of the Gospel. “They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest”. This is the reason that they did not understand before the discourse of Jesus about His passion, death and resurrection. They had in their mind, the theme of the greatest and Jesus was speaking about becoming the least. When we have in our mind, thoughts about carrier, power, positions, we will not be able to understand the plan of God or the Word of God. Not only that we will not understand but also, we will be afraid to clarify. What is this fear? This fear is about the answer if you ask clarification. This fear is about the truth whether it will be contrary to my thoughts about being great. The fear of being in contradiction with my concepts of power or position. That is why Jesus puts a child in their front to be the model. Let’s reflect: Are my thoughts about power and position hinder my understanding of the Word of God and generates fear of knowing the truth?
Don Giorgio