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Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, "Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great."
Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."
- Luke 9:37-50
Yesterday, we read about the Transfiguration of Christ. About eight days after the teachings Jesus gave in Monday's reading, He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, "Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. My study bible says that while the disciples faith is incomplete (Matthew 17:19-20), Jesus' rebuke is also to the people in the crowds, whose faith was weaker still (see Mark 9:22-24).
And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. Perhaps it's because of the marveling of the crowds that Jesus takes this occasion to reiterate what is going to happen to Him. But the disciples still can't take it in, the words just don't quite "sink down into their ears." We can sense a kind of resistance; they are afraid even to ask Him about it. My study bible says that Christ's repeated prediction of His Passion was meant to encourage and strengthen them for the terrifying events they're going to face, and to assure them that He wasn't powerless but rather going to the Cross willingly.
Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great." With the news that Jesus will suffer, and die, and rise again, it's possible that the disciples' minds go directly to the idea that Jesus' rising means His kingdom will manifest. It's a kind of typical failing of human beings, exemplified in the disciples, another stumbling block to our true faith. But Jesus' teaching here about humility is the touchstone of all that there is in Christian faith. These men -- and all the rest of us -- must be shaped to be the leaders He calls them to be. My study bible says that Jesus' pointing to a little child as a model for discipleship emphasizes the virtues required for entrance into the Kingdom: humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved. Now that is something to think about indeed!
Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side." There's a note here in my study bible that tells us that the NU-Text reads, "Whoever is not with you is on your side." Either way, it's an important teaching for all of us -- most particularly in the practice of humility and peace. Theophylact sees this comment by John as a kind of regret, his conscience having been pricked by what Jesus has just taught about the little child. St. Ambrose of Milan, however, sees John as expecting full obedience. But my study bible says that regardless of the motivation, Jesus response tells us that those who act in good faith aren't excluded, even if they're not numbered among the disciples.
In today's reading, we can see Jesus shaping the characters of these men who will go on to lead His Church after His Ascension into heaven. He's teaching them to be the leaders and examples to everyone else who will follow. The very first requirement is faith. The qualities of the "little child" that my study bible teaches: humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved, really fall into a teaching on what it is to have and to develop a greater faith. We learn a kind of supreme dependence upon God with the growth of faith, as our relationship of faith grows to encompass everything in our lives. Somehow the very power of the Kingdom and its work through the Church seems to depend on this, as the "failed exorcism" teaches us. But then Jesus reminds them again of what is to happen to Him. It is the supreme example of "taking up one's cross" as He taught in Monday's reading. And it's sobering, here, while all are amazed at the majesty of God, to think about this sacrifice that is to come -- and that the disciple is not greater than his master. On the contrary, it's a powerful reminder that our faith will ask us to make sacrifices. These disciples are not simply sharing in the power and the glory and the majesty of God in their ministries, far from it. And so, there is another preparation for the future as leaders of the Church in Jesus' reminder. But we can see how the minds of the disciples are working: they go instead into a competition mode, "Who's going to be greatest in the kingdom?" They're thinking about position and who will hold what rank among them. Jesus uses the example of the little child to teach them what His model is for them. It is a total and complete emphasis on humility as the number one virtue that assures one of greatness in this Kingdom. It's all about how they treat one another and those who come to them: the Son and even the Father are there in the ways in which they are to treat the "little ones." And what about those other people out there? What about those followers of Christ who aren't with us? Well, "he who is not against us on our side" (or "against you," as the case may be). This is another teaching on humility, but on the aspects of humility that make for peace. We don't need to pick fights about authority. We don't need to get into conflict without first being challenged somehow. And that's a great lesson in His Church; it's a lesson for tolerance and forbearance. It's a lesson for peace. And it's all bound up in humility before God, and above all in the faith we place in God. These are life lessons for each of us, really. They are Christ's teachings on how we best serve, and how we live a life of faith and dependence upon God. Let us note that our faith is rooted in our capacity for humility; to be truly faithful is to be humble before God, to put all things in service to the faith. This may mean sacrifice, a giving up of the things that conflict with our faith. It will mean a kind of graciousness such as Jesus counsels the disciples to practice with this other group who's not with them. It's an ability to share this kingdom with others such as the "little child" in Christ's example. It means keeping God always in our hearts, and practicing love in the ways that God loves us. A tall order -- and one we practice for a lifetime.
