Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me

 

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. 

 

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.   And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."  

 

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."   But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

 

- Mark 9:30–41 

 

 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.  Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.  And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"  Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.  And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.  So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."  He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me."  Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"  And he said, "From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it:  "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.  And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.  And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"  So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

 

  Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.   Here Jesus predicts His death and Resurrection a second time to the disciples (see also this reading).  My study Bible says that He does so in order to show that He is going to His Passion freely, and not being taken against His will.  Let us note that the disciples still did not understand what He was telling them, and they were afraid to ask Him about it as well.  

 

 Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.   And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."   It's likely that Christ's talk of rising again on the third day has the disciples convinced that He is speaking about a worldly kingdom that will manifest, with Jesus the Messiah at its head.  My study Bible comments that the dispute among the disciples as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom they envisioned indicates a selfish interest in worldly power.  Jesus powerfully asserts the norms of service, and of humility as those which must operate regarding greatness in His kingdom (and His Church).   To receive even a little child in Christ's name is to receive Christ; and to receive Christ is to receive God the Father who sent Him.  

 

 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."   But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."  My study Bible notes that Theophylact sees John's comment voiced as a regret, his conscience having been pricked by what Christ said about the least and the great.  But St. Ambrose, on the other hand, sees John as expecting full obedience to accompany these blessings of the Kingdom.  In either interpretation, my study Bible says, Christ's response shows those acting in good faith are not excluded, even if they are not currently numbered among the disciples.  Theophylact writes, "See how divine grace is at work even in those who are not His disciples."  See also Numbers 11:24-30.  On those who use Christ's name without good faith, see Luke 11:23; Acts 19:13-16.  

 

 There are interesting "directions" (or perhaps we should call them "redirections") in today's reading.  By that one intends to note how Jesus asks us to redirect our perception of persons to Himself.  In the first case, we're told that then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."  Jesus asks us to redirect our gaze upon those whom we receive in His name, and to look beyond them to see Himself.  In this case, we're to redirect our gaze yet again -- in order to see God the Father received wherever He is.  Note that He sets down the specific condition under which this happens:  when they are received "in My name."   That is, when the disciples are acting on Christ's behalf, as we all might do when we are acting as His disciples, serving in His Church, living our faith.  In the second instance, to act in Christ's name is something He asks us to observe also in other people, whom we perhaps do not even know.  And for those people as well, we are supposed to perceive Christ in the midst of their action.  Jesus says,   "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."   From this latter statement, we can presume that one who acts (gives you a cup of water to drink) in His name, and also because the receiver is somehow "in His name" (because you belong to Christ), will by no means lose his reward.   From these statements we can conclude that the power of Christ's Person, and particularly of His "energies" or spiritual activity in the world, is always going to be at work accompanying those who act in His name, and those who live lives of faithfulness to Him.  When we maintain this kind of faithful living for ourselves, and when we receive even those of seeming least importance in His name, then we are to see Him in that person (as well as the Father by implication), and we are those who carry His blessings as well.  We're given a hint in these statements about the power and blessings that accompany the presence of Christ.  Perhaps we should rather say that Christ's words affirm His presence in all that we do, if we act "in His name."  That is, when we are living faithful lives, and acting as His disciples, seeking to live His will for us.  This principle is true when we are the principle actors, or are the recipients of faithful action, as one who belongs to Him.  Moreover, we're to carry this action of Christ's presence over to our own awareness, our consciousness of receiving Him even in "the least of these," and -- even more powerfully -- this magnifies moreover into the presence of God the Father who sent Him on His saving mission in the world.  Like a powerful worldly emperor or king, all that is "in His name" belongs to Him and represents the presence of His Person, even of the One who sent Him.  When St. Paul writes about a great "cloud of witnesses," he is referring by extension to all those who played a role in the salvation history of the world, the creation and unfolding of the faith that we receive.  But such a cloud could not exist without what it means to act and be faithful "in His name" -- for, as St. Paul also writes, "He is the author and finisher of our faith" (see Hebrews 12:1-3).   In these senses in which Christ is present with us in our faithfulness, through people we receive in His name, and also through us when those who receive us do us kindness, that faithfulness "in His name" makes possible a kind of icon.  That is, in all of these encounters, and in living this life of faithfulness, icons of Christ Himself -- images which point to and reflect Him -- become possible in all encounters.  This chain of meetings and images and meanings works to turn Christ's creation into His icon, when we live and practice faith in His name.  Let us be ready and willing for these encounters and the life He asks of us.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all

 

Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.  

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."  

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

 

- Mark 9:30–41 

 

Yesterday we read that, returning from the mountain of the Transfiguration, when He came to the disciples, Jesus saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.  Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.  And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"  Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.  And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.  So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."  He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me."  Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"  And he said, "From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it:  "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.  And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.  And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"  So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."  

 

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.  This is the second time Jesus predicts His death and Resurrection (see the first time here).  My study Bible says that He does so in order to show that He is going to His Passion freely, and that He will not be taken against His will.  Note that it is still not the time for this to happen, as Jesus seeks to avoid open conflict -- He did not want anyone to know He was passing through Galilee.

 

 Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."   This question of who would be the greatest likely arises because the disciples have misunderstood about Jesus rising on the third day.  Perhaps they consider that Jesus will then come into a worldly kingdom, and so they dispute among themselves about who would have the greatest place in such a kingdom.  My study Bible comments that the nature of this dispute indicates a selfish interest in worldly power.  Rather than emphasizing the ideal of greatness in a world dominated by Caesar and powerful kings, Jesus teaches them that even when receiving a little child in His name means receiving Him -- and moreover, to receive Christ means instead to receive God the Father who sent Him. 

 

 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."  My study Bible cites the commentary of both Theophylact and St. Ambrose of Milan on this passage, for us to consider.  Theophylact sees regret in John's comment, and his conscience pricked by what Christ has just said about being the last of all and servant of all.  But St. Ambrose comments, in contrast, that John expects full obedience to accompany such blessings.  But, my study Bible says, in either understanding, Christ's response shows that those who act in good faith are not excluded, even if they are not currently numbered among the disciples.  Theophylact writes, "See how divine grace is at work even in those who are not His disciples" (see also Numbers 11:24-30).  On those who use Christ's name without good faith, see Luke 11:23; Acts 19:13-16. 

 

Once again, it's something remarkable to observe Jesus' careful attempts to conceal His presence, His efforts not to draw attention to Himself.  Here He is back in His home territory of the region of Galilee, and on His way to what some consider His ministry headquarters, the city of Capernaum.  But He did not want anyone to know it.  As we have previously observed, there are times when Jesus wants to withdraw from all forms of conflict, from the scrutiny of the religious leaders. No doubt they would be expecting Him in Galilee, and would have heard of the healing and exorcism He effected, after His disciples could not do so and were disputing with some scribes about it (in Saturday's reading, above).  It shows us how aware He is of the ambitions of the religious leadership to rid themselves of His presence, which they now consider a threat to their authority.  So, on His way back to Capernaum and Peter's home which served as a ministry headquarters, He does not want anyone to be aware of His presence.  For the second time, He also warns the disciples about His Passion to come.  But they misunderstand what is going to happen, notably likely about what it means that He will rise the third day.  While Jesus takes great care to reveal to the disciples what is coming, we observe that He does not rush to His fate, and neither does He seek to make it happen.  Quite the opposite is going on here, in fact.  Everything depends upon the Father's time, and that is the proper time.  He is by no means anxious to spark an open confrontation and manipulate circumstances to force the hand of the authorities.  He is not in a rush to "force" His hour of glory (John 12:16).  And in keeping with this humility and obedience of Jesus, He teaches these men so eager for "greatness" what it is to be truly great, and that their own mission depends upon their capacity for humility and service.  Jesus is teaching them to, in fact, reject common notions of greatness in order to be truly great in His kingdom, and to serve His Church as they must do.  While, thanks no doubt to the influence of Christ's teachings, we have historical cultural values that uplift gracious behavior and humility as the foundation of public good manners, Christ's call to us still asks us to defy common notions of greatness.  We elevate celebrity to high achievement, and in an age of social media, personal publicity is a common pattern with which we might be all too familiar.  Children are measuring themselves by what they see as achievement in social media, none of which may be true or reasonable in the least.  Humility is not seeking publicity for good works or even charitable donations, although that may come of its own merit.  Being kind and compassionate is not simply useful for social value.   Even the Caesars uplifted their public works and called themselves benefactors, as Jesus taught (Luke 22:25).  While it seems not at all obvious to these men what greatness they will find in service and humility, they will in fact build the Church through such virtues, and the central empowerment to such efforts is faith.  Their personal sacrifices in building the Church will result, for example, in the creation of public hospitals.  The first dedicated public hospital in the world was built by St. Basil the Great in the 4th century (369 AD), after Christianity ceased to be persecuted and was established as a dominant religion.  Within a short period, not only were hospitals to become ubiquitous in the Byzantine Empire, but even the science and ethics of medicine would expand as a result.  In our modern perspective of popular media and culture, we are offered so much in the way of both spectacle and also consumer goods that it is hard to imagine the beauty of humility and service in giving through faith in Christ as a way of life.  But nonetheless, we are still asked to build our own integrity upon the values Jesus teaches in today's reading.  Especially in a world with greater than ever material power at its command, it's essential that we understand how we can build better lives and better communities through the intangibles of Christ's values, and especially through this simple practice of coming to see ourselves receiving not only Christ, but God the Father, in those "little ones" in our communities, perhaps particularly in our churches.  Let us consider the greatness that Christ desires, and what might be shaped, especially in a world such as ours today, by His image for us.  His teaching of greatness may seem paradoxical, but it is a paradox that has elevated goodness in the world, and it constitutes the rock upon which we may build our lives, our hopes, and our faith.  

 

 

 

Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me

Christ and St. Ignatius, detail of fresco, 1321-22.  Gračanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery, Kosovo

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

- Mark 9:30-41

On Saturday we read that, coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration with James, John, and Peter, when He came to the disciples in the town, Jesus saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.  Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.  And he asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"  Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.  And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.  So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."  He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me."  Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him"  And he said, "From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it:  "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.  And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.  And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"  So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.  This is the second time that Jesus has predicted His death and Resurrection to the disciples (see 8:31).  My study bible comments that by doing so, Jesus shows He is going to His Passion freely, and not being taken against His will.   Let us also note carefully the bewilderment of the disciples.  They did not understand, but also they were afraid to ask Him.

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."  Clearly Jesus' teaching that He will rise on the third day (above) has given ideas to the disciples about the imminent manifestation of the Kingdom as a worldly kingdom, fitting the popular expectations about the Messiah.  So, they have been disputing among themselves which one would be the greatest in that material, earthly kingdom they imagine is coming.  This is a disappointing response to Jesus' warning of His suffering that is to come.  Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach the essential nature of what constitutes greatness within His Kingdom and His community of the Church:  humility and service.  My study bible says that pointing to a little child as the model of true discipleship, Jesus emphasizes the virtues required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven:  humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and to be loved.  Frequently, St. Ignatius of Antioch is depicted in icons as this child.  In various legends of saints, he is the boy who gave the loaves and fishes in John 6:9.  Jesus' teaching emphasizes the power of the communion of the Church, as He speaks of receiving one of these little children in My name -- and connecting that child not only to Himself, but also to the Father who sent Him.

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."  My study bible comments here that Theophylact sees John's comment as regret, in response to his conscience having been pricked by what Christ has just taught about the first and the last.  But St. Ambrose offers a different understanding, that John expects full obedience to accompany the blessings of ministering in Christ's name.  Either way, my study bible comments, Christ's response shows those acting in good faith are not excluded, even if they are not contemporaneously numbered among the disciples.  Theophan writes, "See how divine grace is at work even in those who are not His disciples."  See also Numbers 11:24-30.  On those who use the name of Christ without good faith, see Luke 11:23, Acts 19:13-16.   The final verse emphasizes the teaching about receiving the little child.  These disciples, also, upon being received by others, convey a blessing upon them for their good will, because they belong to Christ.

Today's readings emphasize the communion of Christ, the link between all those who live, act, work, and minister in His name.  Jesus' teachings, while most clearly about the need for humility and service, emphasize also our communion, the special link that exists between all those who work or act bearing the name or image of Christ.  Let us first of all be clear on an understanding of "the name" especially in times when the authority of emperors or kings was well-understood in a certain respect.  All those things that bore the name of the king or his house (or family) bore the presence of that king or that emperor.  To deface a public work depicting the monarch was to insult and do damage to the monarch, and great penalties could result.  The name of the monarch also bore the same presence:  the signature of such a person was full representation of that person, whether the monarch was physically present or not.  (This is linked to present-day protocols of respect regarding the flag of a country, for it stands for and represents the country itself.)  So it is here in a similar sense with Jesus' name.  All those who belong to Christ convey Christ Himself into the world.  So much so, that even should we receive a little child in His name, we must understand that we receive Him, but also moreover, even the Father who sent Him.  That is as great a personage as is possible indeed.  The power of God lies in all things having to do truly with the name of Jesus.  Therefore in Jesus' teaching today we not only understand that to receive even a little child in His name is to receive Christ, and even to receive the Father who sent Him, but also the receiving of anyone bearing Christ's name conveys a blessing on the receiver, even one who so much as offers a cup of water.  What Jesus is saying, therefore, we can conclude, teaches us that each good thing we do for one another within the body of Christ, within this communion, includes Christ Himself -- and therefore it is as if we have served Christ Himself and will receive the proper reward for doing so.  These powerful words and concepts convey to us the strength that lies in true ministry, because they give us a sense of the divine power of holiness -- unseen by so many, and yet at work in our world and in what we do in our lives.  There is no telling how truly powerful a good work can be, a kind word or gesture, even the smallest thing we give of ourselves.  Moreover, that gesture need not be to one who has a powerful profile or position in this world, for even to receive a little child in His name is as if we receive Him, as if we receive even the Father who sent Him.  The power in this communion is great indeed.  If we understood the power of holiness that is at work even in this world, how much more seriously would we take these maxims of our faith, these teachings of Christ?  How much more solemnly would we accept the need to be conscious of the ways in which we treat one another, or the ways in which we might so easily dismiss one another?  How much more would we cherish our capacity to do even the smallest good for another, or commit the smallest act of charity?  This understanding of these teachings of Christ refines, hones, and gives body to our understanding of grace.  It gives shape to a consciousness of blessing and what that means, and how blessings are conveyed.  If each of us has the power to convey such blessings through our faith in Christ, through our choices in His name, then that indeed makes the power of His communion all the more great.  Let us be aware of our choices -- both those we make, and those we fail to make, and what we lose by not understanding the power of His name.

If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

- Mark 9:30-41

Yesterday we read that when Jesus came to the disciples (from the Mount of the Transfiguration), He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.  Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.  And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"  Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.  And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.  So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."  He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me."  Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"  And he said, "From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it:  "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.  And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.  And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"  So He said to them, "This kind cane come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.  This is the second time that Jesus predicts His death and Resurrection to the disciples.  (See this reading for the first.)  My study bible comments that this affirms to the disciples that He is going to His Passion freely, and not being taken against His will. 

Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And he sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."  We note again Jesus' tact.  Any discipline or correction among the disciples takes place in the house, behind closed doors.  The disciples are obviously embarrassed about their dispute and its nature, for they kept silent when He asked about it.  The question of who would be greatest, my study bible says, indicates a selfish interest in worldly power.   Jesus takes on this mantle of worldly power, and transforms it to the power that is present in Him and in His ministry.  This is the power of grace, the model for which the disciples must work for themselves.  It is a sense in which we serve something which is greater than ourselves and yet we are aware lives among us and within us.  Even the little child, carrying the potential of the kingdom within -- and Christ's presence through faith -- must be received as if receiving Christ, and moreover the Father who sent Him.  This kind of gracious power is the power of love, which must be at work among them.  To be great is to have the capacity to sacrifice for something much greater than merely selfish interest, even an awareness of the presence of God in our midst.

Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is on our side.  For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."  My study bible comments that Theophylact sees John's comment as a regret, as his conscience is now pricked by Christ's correction of the disciples.  But St. Ambrose, to the contrary, sees John as expecting full obedience to accompany such blessings.  But in either case, the message of Christ is that those who act in good faith are not excluded, even if they aren't currently numbered among the disciples.  Theophylact writes, "See how divine grace is at work even in those who are not His disciples" (see also Numbers 11:24-30).   On using Christ's name without good faith, see Luke 11:23, Acts 19:13-16.  Let us make careful note of the persistent message here:  those who carry Christ with them, even a little child, are not only to be received by the disciples with great grace, but to do so conveys its own grace to the giver.

What is gracious behavior?  We don't hear much about it these days.  Either we seem to be told about a kind of self-righteous moralism done for conspicuous show, or a childish and selfish attitude of entitlement that leads to all kinds of excess -- and to rage when it is not fulfilled.  Gracious behavior is that which Jesus teaches to the disciples.  It entails a sense in which sacrifice is not something bad and not merely oppressive, but done for a purpose and for something greater, a presence which is within us and among us.  To be aware of God's love is to be aware of carrying something within us that calls us to a higher standard.  This is not a demand or excuse for people to walk all over us or to treat us badly.  Rather it is a call to the consciousness of what grace is and how it works; moreover we are to be aware of how God's love works in us and through us, and to respect that.  Faith carries with itself a power and a responsibility to this love and the grace that is at work in us and among us.  To participate in this kingdom is to seek an awareness of what that means and how its own rules -- in contrast to worldly power -- are at work in us and must, as well, be honored.  We have all heard of "win-win" situations or solutions to problems.  Well, this is Christ's version of "win-win" in which each is willing to sacrifice for the other in order to make room for grace and for the correctness of love.  To treat others with such "gentleness" is the root of what has come to be considered good manners.  Rather than seeing ourselves diminished by such an understanding that cuts to the root of simplistic selfish behavior, we are to understand that Christ's example of graciousness is what it truly means to be great.  To serve all is to be the greatest.  But let us pay close attention:  the impulse here is not to be a doormat for those who would trample us under; it is Christ who warned:  "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."  Perhaps swine and dogs are terms by which we may understand those who cannot see anything but competition and selfishness, who are so blind as to be incapable of recognizing true good, and will respond only with rage to that which teaches discipleship.  It is rather an awareness of the presence and work of this Kingdom, wherever it may be found, that Jesus counsels; and this awareness must convey a particular way to live and interact, a working of grace that we also strive to practice as part of discipleship.  The world sees "sacrifice" as a bad word.  But we can all understand the concept of "win-win."  If we know who Christ is, then we can also understand what it is to be the "first," as we share in His ministry.