Homily: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Mark 10:35-45
20 October 2024
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
I came across this post and a comment that both seem very appropriate for our reflection this Sunday. Jai Cabajar posted in X: “Would you consent to a surgery to a person who has never studied to become a surgeon? Would you have your house done by someone who has not built anything at all? Would you ask someone to teach you who has no knowledge of the topic you are studying? So why would you vote for someone who has no platform for you?” Then, someone wrote in the comments section: “Hey Sir Jai. That didn’t work in the last elections what more now? But hopefully, there will be a plot twist and my judgment of Filipinos is proven wrong.
In the gospel this Sunday, James and John approach Jesus with a special request. They would like to be seated on either side of Him when He comes into His glory. (Mark 10:37) Take note that these are very prestigious places that indicate honour, power and authority. Jesus responds to them and the other disciples listening by teaching them what true greatness entails in the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells those closest to Him that if they want to be great in God’s eyes, they must strive to be servants of all. whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43) They must lead by serving in the manner that Jesus serves others.
We automatically think that these instructions of Jesus on servant-leadership only apply to those of us who hold any civic or church leadership positions. However, that isn’t the case. In the short passage from one of the Servant Songs of the Prophet Isaiah, we are given the example of a servant-leader as one who utterly knows and loves his followers. A servant-leader is one who does not “lord it over” (Mark 10:42) but rather is one who stands under (understands) the other, suffering for them that they may be served, that they may be saved. In the Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told that we have “a high priest who is able to sympathise with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15) Thus, every baptised Christian is called to enter the servant leadership of Jesus. We are invited by the gospel to examine ourselves and acknowledge the subtle ways we place our self-interests over the needs of those we have been entrusted to serve.
Moreover, we need not take for granted Jesus Christ from whom we model our selfless service. He shows us what it means to follow the will of God in humility. He shows us what it means to be selfless in service of others. Sometimes we are tempted to do what we want or what we believe to be what is best for us. James and John initially asked for what they thought was a good deal for them, not realising God had better and more important plans for them. The only way we can be sure is to always be connected to Christ in prayer. In prayer, we get to know our God better and open ourselves to His voice calling out to us and instructing us. It is God also who gives us the strength to carry out the task or the mission He has laid out for us.
With the election fever already on, we are once again being asked to see through the words and actions of those who present themselves for public office. We have to be very discerning of the sincerity and capability of these candidates. We have to assess whether their actions or words are truly motivated by public service and not by self-serving purposes only. In a society that gives premium on appearances, we can easily forget the message of the Gospel. We may even be tempted to make decisions for personal gains, forgetting that we are called to think and to behave “out of service for our neighbour” as described in the Gospel. A friend told me… “We have to choose someone whom we need at this time of our life as a nation rather than whom we simply want/like or someone who is popular. Let us have pity on our country.”
As followers of Jesus, let us pray for humility, a sensitivity to the needs of others, and willingness to serve. Let us value leadership that strives to emulate the example of Jesus who came “not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet by Ford Madox Brown
Sunday Gospel Reflections 