"Whoever wants to be the first shall be the servant of all"      (Mark 9:35)

In our society we have fallen in the competition for first place that even in childhood we are advised to seek to be number one. What we do not realize is that this way of thinking, leads us, without realizing it to a society of selfish beings whom only think of themselves and to whom opportunities for others 

are but mere steps in their career to ascend. As Christians we know that these attitudes go against the Gospel and the model of service, love and total dedication that Jesus 

gave us until his death on the cross.

 

The Apostle James warns us about the dangers of jealousy and selfish ambition that can occur in our communities. We can see the destructive effects of ambitious desires in the first reading where we are told about the judgments that the evil ones prepare. As if that were not enough, the disciples of Jesus 

also fall into the same temptation when they argue among themselves who will be the first of them all. The Teacher ends the discussion by teaching 

them that whoever wants to be the

 first is the servant of them all.

 
Sometimes we think that wars and conflicts are inevitable in today's world either between nations, groups or individuals. But the Apostle James says that it must not be so. In a rhetorical way he asks
us "where do the wars and conflicts between you come from? ... all this comes from our passions," says the apostle. It is the passions that make us
want what we do not have and are able to take what we should not. This point of view is the source of war and the conflicts within us. As Christians we are called to resist these passions, overcome them and ideally replace them with generosity and empathy. Only in this way, instead of conflicts will we have peace, one of the signs of messianic times.
 

The disciples play a determining role in the Gospel of Mark, but they are described as rude in understanding throughout this same Gospel. In fact Mark emphasizes how the apostles did not understand the message of Jesus and even disappointed him with their words. An example is the worldly way of thinking of Peter, whom Jesus rebuked in last week’s Gospel (Mark 8:33). Today they argue among each other which of them is the greatest.

The words of Jesus to his apostles 2000 years ago teach us today that our commitment is to be servants of all, especially the poorest, by banishing all forms of selfishness and careerism even among priests, bishops or religious. May the words of Jesus make us witnesses of his Gospel and at the same time serve as a denunciation of all those that take distance us from Him.    P. Hernán, SJ