The Child Leads the Way

September 20, 2009
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year B

Three weeks into the new school year, I suppose that the tests, quizzes and papers are already approaching and being given. The teaching has begun and hopefully with it the learning. We shall see. Today, we see how much learning is happening with the disciples and our Lord. And sadly, it's been a tough go at it so far.

Always the teacher, Our Lord is finding that the disciples are having a hard time learning, the toughest lesson of all, the lesson of the cross. You'll remember last week, our Lord began the lesson by announcing to his disciples that He must suffer and die. The response from the disciples was one of "charitable" non-acceptance. "No, Lord, we will never let that happen to you." And our Lord's response, "Get behind me Satan, you are thinking as human beings think, not as God thinks." Plain and simple, they did not accept his word.

So we find our Lord, trying to teach them the lesson again this week. He talks to them further about his mission and that he must suffer and die. The response this week?? Well, St. Mark tells us that they did not understand and that they were afraid to ask Him questions. And upon questioning from our Lord, they are silent...Students who just don't understand the lesson.

Does this remind you of anything? Perhaps a classroom scene...where the students are just not getting the message?? Jesus may not have the disciples in a classroom, but no doubt he is trying to communicate an important lesson about the cross. And we hear silence, we find fear, we find a lack of understanding.

So then, we see Our Lord offer a perfect remedy for all of this lack of acceptance, namely, a child. We are told that he places a child in their midst and tells them that they must be the servant, they must be as the child, little, unafraid, listening and attentive...if they are to understand the lesson of the cross...for the child will accept the message, and we must follow the little one's lead.

My friends, what a gift this is to us. We who experience the cross daily, we who know what it's like to face the jealousies, wars, conflicts that St. James speaks of. Jesus gives us the remedy, it's being the child...welcoming the child, receiving the child who is in our midst. It is the child who understands and accepts the cross. It is the child who leads the way.

This week, as we face the trials and crosses of daily life and of our own lives, let us remember that we are children, God's children. And in being his children, we will not be overcome by the complexities of the cross. We will possess everything that we need. We will turn to our Lord and find in him the guidance and everything that we need. It's as simple as being a child.