Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash
A Reflection from the Fuel Daily Readings App for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Click here to read the reading.
I would say ordinarily I am a fairly easy-going guy. Except when I get competitive, mostly when I play any kind of board game and most video games. Sometimes I’ll look back after a game has finished and be a little embarrassed about how into it I got, especially about thoughts I had in the heat of the moment. I think it’s okay to be competitive, but it can’t be at the detriment to ourselves or others.
In the Gospel today the disciples were arguing about whom was the best out of them. It can be really easy to be critical of this as a modern reader but conversely think about the last time you had a harsh and critical thought about a friend, co-worker or family member. We can be susceptible to comparing ourselves to those around us, and not always in trying to learn from the positive example they might be setting. After all, the pursuit of holiness is a good thing, but we must be humble and gracious in this pursuit, as with all things.
Jesus, as usual, has really direct and insightful words to inject into this conversation amongst the Disciples. “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” It seems counter-intuitive, how could putting myself last make me first? It all depends on our perspective upon this race we are running; is it about selfishness and speed, or about humility and care?
We must begin with the end in mind; which for Christians is Heaven. When we look at who is the ‘best,’ maybe we can try to see the goodness that others are offering and affirm them on that while modelling it ourselves in our lives. Above all, we can model ourselves after Jesus, because He alone is our best example of living this life.
+ Lord, may I be humble in my pursuit of You. Remove from me my selfishness and the comparisons which tear down myself and others. Help me run this race towards heaven with You by my side. Amen.