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Most people today like success. Almost daily, through a wide variety of media, our attention is often drawn to those who are the wealthiest, the most powerful, the most beautiful, the most fashionable, and even to athletes and teams with the most wins. Their activities grab the headlines or the lead story on the evening news; their photos appear regularly in the social media, and their lives can dominate our conversations. At times we may desire what they appear to have – fame and fortune. We can begin to use these ideas of “success” as a standard for our own vision of what it means to be “successful.”
Jesus’ followers fell into similar traps. In today’s Gospel (Mark 9:30-37), the Son of God was predicting his own passion, death, and Resurrection for the second time, yet his followers responded by arguing among themselves who among them was the greatest.
How have our lives been shaped by the words of Jesus? Who and what gets ignored in our pursuit of “success” as the world sees it? And ultimately, what stands in the way of our pursuit of true discipleship?
Today’s Scripture Readings offer some clear guidelines. Disciples of Jesus Christ are not to seek power and prestige, which the culture offers, but peace and purity. Disciples of Jesus Christ are not motivated by jealousy and selfish ambition but serving the greater good. Disciples of Jesus Christ do not give undue attention to the wealthy and powerful, but to the childlike and the marginalized. Disciples of Jesus Christ are not obsessed about their own home, or clothing, or fine dining, but about providing shelter, clothing, and food for those less fortunate than themselves.
Jesus was focused on his Father’s will and sharing the Father’s love. Contrary to the worldly expectations of his followers, he would endure his own passion and death, and rise again in glory. To be true disciples of Jesus Christ will require a shift in our own priorities – moving away from worldly concerns that would distract us from the Lord, and rather moving toward the source of our life and eternal happiness, which can be found in God alone.
