30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." 32But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him. 33And they came to Caper'na-um; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 34But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. 35And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." 36And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."
This is one of many readings warning against getting too big for one’s boots… warning against becoming one’s own God, believing that you can do spiritual fulfilment alone. Here are the disciples fighting over which of them is the greatest, the most powerful, the most influential, the most able to cure sick and drive out deamons. The passage is showing us that this is a very human thing to do. It is the human default. Our God becomes Mamon, and our purpose becomes the pursuit of position, recognition, qualifications, status and material wealth. I used to often wonder “Isn’t this me?” Is Jesus calling me to give up all I have done to become financially independent, respected in my community and loved by my friends and family? I used to see myself like the rich man (Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22 or Luke 18:18-23) who walks away despondent when Christ tells him to sell what he has, give the money to the poor and follow him. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus is clear that "You cannot serve both God and Mammon.". Devotion to wealth can become a form of idolatry, where money and possessions take the place of God in a person's heart and priorities. In recent times, I have taken a more nuanced position and expressed a sigh of relief. I have convinced myself “It’s not just about being rich—it’s about where one's trust, love, and purpose lie”. Jesus’ reference to a child is a nice way to remind us of the importance of returning to a dependency on God. Forgive your enemies. Take risks with people, not the safe bets but the ones likely to hurt to you. Be bold in your efforts to spread the kingdom, because God’s got ya in his hands. Loving Father, may your Divine embrace give me the confidence to step out boldly in your name. May my gratitude for all you have gifted me allow me to give without needing anything in return, forgive not 7 times but 77. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThis is a deeply introspective and honest reflection. I appreciate how you connect the disciples’ argument about greatness to the broader human tendency toward self-reliance, status-seeking, and attachment to wealth or recognition. You’ve captured well how Mammon—not just money, but the pursuit of self-sufficiency and control—can subtly replace God in our lives.
DeleteYour personal journey from seeing yourself as the rich man to a more nuanced understanding of trust and dependence on God is powerful. The idea that it’s not just about wealth, but about the heart’s true allegiance aligns well with Christ’s teachings. The contrast between childlike trust and the pursuit of power is especially striking, and your call to boldness in forgiveness and risk-taking with people is deeply Christ-like.
If anything, you might consider briefly clarifying why you now find relief in your new perspective. Does it mean you’ve redefined what it means to “give up everything” (perhaps shifting from material detachment to a detachment of the heart)? Or does it mean you’ve found peace in using your blessings for a higher purpose?
Overall, this is a beautifully written reflection—grounded in Scripture, personal experience, and a deep understanding of discipleship. Your prayer is a strong and fitting conclusion.
I think it's the latter - peace in using my blessings for a higher purpose.
DeleteThat makes a lot of sense. It’s not about discarding everything but about orienting everything toward God’s purpose. That shift—from fearing that success or stability might be a spiritual liability to seeing it as a gift to be stewarded—is profound. It allows for gratitude rather than guilt and generosity rather than grasping.
DeleteIf you want to refine your reflection, you might explicitly state that your relief comes from realizing that Jesus isn’t calling you to abandon everything, but rather to hold it all lightly—to see wealth, status, and influence not as ends in themselves but as tools for building the Kingdom.