29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the Gospels of the last four Sundays we have seen Jesus teaching and forming his disciples in the ways of the Kingdom of God. What has been very obvious in each of these episodes is how the worst characteristics of the human condition are present in those who are following the Lord.
The disciples who tried to stop others doing good in the name of Jesus were jealous that others would share their privileged calling. It seems that the disciples were also upset that children would win the attention of the Lord rather than themselves. The rich young man was too attached to the world and his own ambitions to be able to commit to the Kingdom of God. And today we read of James and John and their raw ambition to be favoured over others.
What is noticeable about the reaction of Jesus to the behaviour of the disciples is that he does not condemn them in any way. He does not even call on them to repent or reform. Jesus tells them what is necessary if they are to inherit the Kingdom of God. They are to rejoice in the good works of others, they are to become like little children, they are to shed from their lives any material things or status that would come before the Lord and they must be willing to share in the suffering and mission of Jesus.
In the Gospel of today’s Mass the very important element of a disciple’s life is emphasised; they are to serve each other and this service must be humble service, not seeking recognition or reward. In each of the Gospel events of these Sundays Jesus answers the question ‘Who can be saved?’ by saying ‘Let go’ – Let go of ambition, of possessions, of jealousy, of resentments, of rivalries and self-importance and ‘let God do it’.
And God will do it. God has taken the initiative in the plan of redemption. This is the innovation of Christianity. Every other religion lays out a path of salvation through ascetic practices and intellectual speculations, promising salvation as the end prize, but leaving people on their own to accomplish the task. Christianity does not begin with what people should do to be saved, but with what God has done to save them.
To love God with all our hearts is “the first and greatest commandment,” but the commandments are not primary; they come second. Before the category of commandment comes the category of gift. As it says in the Acts of Apostles, Christianity is “the proclamation of the grace of God” (Act 14:3; 20:32).The Christian religion is the religion of grace.
We give thanks to God for the gift of grace which leads us into the Kingdom of God.
