The Path to True Greatness
Wisdom 2:12,17-20/Psalm 53:3-6,8/James 3:16-4:3/Mark 9:30-37
A. INTRODUCTION: Today’s Gospel, is divided into three parts. Mark 9:30-32 (Jesus predicts his suffering); Mark 9:33-34 (dispute about greatness) and Mark 9:35-37 (the example of a child). In these ways Jesus teaches his disciples about the path to true greatness. Greatness is real and we can be great. But the path to true greatness is never easy.
B. TRUE GREATNESS: In biblical understanding, greatness is associated with the following:
1. HUMILITY (Proverbs 18:12, “Before a downfall, a person’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”)
2. SERVANT-LEADERSHIP (Mark 9:35 “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'” also cf. Matthew 20:26-28 …the rulers of the gentiles Lord it over them, their official exercise authority over them but whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all.. So, selfless service is greatness)
3. FAITHFULNESS (Matthew 25:14-30 the parable of the Bags of Gold NIV, Parable of Talent NET, so, greatness is seen in faithfulness to Little things)
4. OBEDIENCE TO GOD (Joshua 1:7-8 Only be strong and take courage. Be careful to observe the entire law that my servant Moses gave to you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left, so that you might prosper wherever you go. 8 Do not let this book of the law be absent from your mouth; meditate upon it day and night, so that you might carefully observe everything that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful.)
5. WISDOM (Proverbs 1:1-7 centres on the purpose and theme (NIV) wisdom brings greatness, infact there is no greatness without wisdom)
6. COMPASSION AND MERCY (Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) “If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
7. SELFLESSNESS (Philippians 2:3-8 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:….)
8. SPIRITUAL FRUITFULNESS (John 15:1-8 The Vine and the Branches, fruitfulness is greatness)
9. SUFFERING: This is the first part of the gospel, in Mark 9: 30-32 Jesus predicts his passion, death and eventual resurrection. But the disciples fail to understand that challenges come before greatness rather they focused on power and prestige. Often we focus on power and prestige but fail to realize nothing good comes easily. The part to greatness is never rosy. From the aforementioned greatness is never associated with Power, wealth etc in this kingdom.
C. DISPUTE ABOUT GREATNESS: Again, Mark 9:33-34 presents the actual dispute about greatness. The disciples argue about who’s the greatest among them. We still argue among ourselves like children in the market place. We argue Chelsea and Arsenal, PDP and APC. Jesus intervenes, teaching that true greatness comes not from power or status, but from serving others. Therefore, a man is great not because of the number of servants he has but because of the number of those he serves.
Hence, Jesus taught that greatness in God’s kingdom is not about:
1. POWER OR STATUS (Matthew 20:20-28 -A Mother’s Request for position)
2. WEALTH OR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS (Matthew 19:21-26 – the rich and the Kingdom of God, the man went away sad)
3. POPULARITY OR FAME (Luke 12:15 “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”)
4. SELFISH AMBITION: In the second reading James adds, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every foul practice” (James 3:16). (PDP and APC, Church societies and spiritual groups) But wisdom from above leads to humility, gentleness, and peace (James 3:17-18). Let us not be driven by selfish desires, but instead seek God’s wisdom, which leads to harmony and righteousness (James 4:1-3). By embracing humility and serving others, we embody this wisdom and become great.
5. WICKEDNESS, the first reading from the Book of Wisdom warns us about the mindset of the wicked, who say, “Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions” (Wisdom 2:12). You can’t be great by pulling others down. You can’t be great by plotting evil and carryout manipulations. You can’t be great by ridiculing the righteous, saying, “Let us see if his words are true, and let us test him with insult and torture” (Wisdom 2:17). You can’t be great if you do not know and discern the mysteries of God like Job. Wisdom 2:22 of the first reading says their actions are rooted in ignorance, for they “do not know the mysteries of God” (Wisdom 2:22).
D. EXAMPLE OF GREATNESS: Mark 9:35-37 used the example of a child to illustrate the above point. In doing that Jesus emphasizes the place of humility, simplicity and receptivity in greatness. In truth, great people are simple, humble and receptive. They welcome children, the poor, rich, disabled, vulnerable and the weak. They welcome people regardless of class, ethnic groups or religion.
Other examples are
1. Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, Romans 4:1-12)
2. Moses (Exodus 3:1-4:17, Numbers 12:3)
3. David (1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 78:70-72)
4. Joseph (Genesis 37:1-36, 50:15-21)
5. Paul (Acts 9:1-31, 2 Corinthians 11:21-33) etc.
Let us pray
Lord, help us to understand the true meaning of greatness. Give us the courage to humble ourselves and serve others. May we welcome the vulnerable and receive you in them. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
