26TH MONDAY HOMILY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

26TH MONDAY HOMILY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: “DO NOT PREVENT HIM, FOR WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU.”

BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas

Job 1:6-22; Psalm 16(17):1-3, 6-7; Luke 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

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The Gospel today gives us two important points for reflection. The first is about true greatness. In the midst of the apostles who were arguing about who is the greatest among them, Jesus brings in a little child and says, “The one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

A child in the world of adults is almost a non-entity: no voice, no power, no rights. If we look around, we see how children are treated. In all the mistakes and folly of adults – poverty, wars, injustices, crimes, immorality, exploitation, sexual abuse – the children are always the ultimate victims. Jesus is painfully aware of this. That is why He said, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” To “receive” such persons is to treat them with the utmost dignity and respect and to accept them and lift them up.

The child represents all who are vulnerable, weak and powerless. In Jesus’ eyes, such little people are models of true greatness: humble, simple, innocent, trusting and obedient. This is precisely the image of Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8). In other words, becoming like a little child is precisely becoming like Jesus who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). This is the key to true greatness.

The second point is the application of this lesson. Part of being childlike is to acknowledge the giftedness of others. It takes a great amount of humility to do this. To think that one has the monopoly of a certain gift, or to look down on others who have no such gift is definitely a manifestation of pride.

The Apostles received from Jesus the power to cast out demons. They thought this power was exclusively theirs. That is why, in the Gospel today, they found a man casting out demons in the Name of Jesus. They do not know him since he does not belong to their group: “he does not follow in our company.” This could be the arrogance of the insider, of the elitist. So, they “tried to prevent him.” But Jesus said to them, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Nobody has monopoly of God’s graces. And He does not need to consult or ask the permission of anybody as to whom He can give His graces and power. Anyone who works for God, works for good. God must have called him to be His instrument. St Josemaría Escrivá gave this important advice: ʺNever blow out any candle that has been lit for Jesus Christ.ʺ

Certainly, even ‘good’ people can be afflicted by pride. In fact, it is even a more dangerous kind of pride. This is what is called ‘spiritual pride’. If we look at the lives of the saints, many of them were victims of persecution by ‘good people.ʹ Understandably, since the saints have conformed themselves, not with the standards of this world, but with the standards of God, many people, even ‘good’ Christians, could not understand them. As a result, they are oftentimes marginalized, ridiculed and even persecuted.

All of us want to be pleasing to God, to be considered great in His eyes. But the first step towards that is to be like a little child – humble, simple and obedient. This runs against our natural human inclinations. But we are not just humans – we are God’s children and followers of Christ. With God’s grace, we hope to grow deeper in humility, more steadfast in obedience and more authentic in love.

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