"Baby Love": A Reflection on the Gospel for September 23rd, 2018: Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Mark 9.30-37 

After leaving the mountain Jesus and his disciples went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.

Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

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A colleague came to work recently to introduce the staff to the newest addition to their little family. In the middle of a typical morning, our office was held captive by a 3-year-old and her almost 1-month-old baby sister. The atmosphere at work changed almost immediately. People came out of their offices. The infant was passed around amid ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ and bright smiles. The 3-year-old had her pick of playmates from several staff vying to become her favourite “grown up at mommy’s office”. The perspective was shifted so that all of a sudden deadlines, projects, and “important” work conversations took second place to making the space to welcome these children. 

This visit came to mind as I reflected on this Gospel reading from Mark. The disciples clearly were not understanding what Jesus was trying to teach them. They were silent and they did not ask questions. The conversations they were having did not reflect what He was trying to communicate to them. Even the “twelve”—those chosen by Jesus as the first to be sent out with His message, are too preoccupied to grasp what they were being told. On one level, I can relate, and this scene is of some comfort to me. After all, if they lived with Jesus and still did not understand the mission, then I can forgive myself on the days when I don’t have a sweet clue what Jesus is asking of me. But on another level—come on, guys! However, rather than reacting to the apostles' thick-headedness in frustration, Jesus tries something else. He changes their perspective rather simply, but quite profoundly. 

After using words to teach the twelve to adjust their way of thinking and being, Jesus knows he has to up His game and offer them something tangible that they can relate to. In this instance, it is a child. And not only does He bring attention to the child, Jesus takes the child in His arms. He physically expresses care for the child. In doing so, He literally shows them that what He is calling His followers to, is relationship; a relationship with others that is, in turn, a relationship with Him—and that is ultimately a relationship with God. 

We are a people of faith—not ideals of faith, not buildings of faith, not principles of faith. We are people of faith. Being a ‘people' implies that our Christian faith is not just about one person, but rather a group—a community. Care for one another and service to one another is what grows community. As a Christian community, we care for one another and serve one another in the name of Christ who was the first to care for and serve us. When we forget that—when we forget who we are in Christ—we must change our perspective. Or rather, we must make the space in our hearts and minds for Jesus to change it for us.

​Aurea Sadi

"As a Christian community, we care for one another and serve one another in the name of Christ who was the first to care for
and serve us." - Aurea Sadi (Ora Reflections)

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