Daily Reflection – 9/30/19
Sacred Scripture
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you (Luke 9: 46-50)
Reflection
Jesus placed a child next to himself to show his disciples who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God. What can a little child possibly teach us about greatness? It starts with a natural humility combined with innocent trust, The one who is humble and lowly of heart — who instead of asserting their rights willingly empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position of a servant or child.
What other model might we have? Jesus. The Lord is the greatest because he is meek and humble of heart. He reaches out to the sinner, touches the leper, brings sight to the blind and understanding to the wicked. He goes after the lost sheep and carries them home. He raises the dead; he saves the dead. He is a friend to all: sinner and saint; friend and enemy; follower and not. He is the lover of all. Christ died on the Cross because he emptied himself. “It is finished” means “I have given you everything; I have nothing else to give.” This is the only way that God could die: By giving it all. He gave us his words, his deeds, his love and mercy, his compassion and kindness, his inner thoughts, his deepest desires; he revealed the mysteries of his Father’s kingdom. He prepared the mansion, a room for you and me.
The Lord loves me more than life itself, especially the lost, the forgotten, the abandoned, the ridiculed, the scorned, the unpopular, the outcast, the loser, the lonely, the elderly, the bedridden, the child, the innocent, the abused, the ones who look at themselves and cannot help but say, “I am ugly”, “I hate myself”, “I am worthless.” The Lord came into the world to LOVE YOU! He gives himself to us and he asks just one thing from us: “Lay down your life for another.” This I gladly do because he did it for me. I choose to love, to forgive and to give. I choose to live like Him for the rest of my life. I choose to give so that I may live.
I will do what he did. I will fight tooth and nail for what is good, right and holy. I will speak the Truth, live the Truth, love the Truth and share the Truth. I will do that even if it makes me unpopular, even if I am considered “different” because I do. There is no other god but Christ Jesus. He cannot be replaced. No possession will ever be able to take His place. He is my one possession. He is my life. He is the greatest because he is the Truth and His truth is this: You and I will never be replaced.
Prayer of The Day
Lord, you humbled yourself to the extreme by dying on the cross for me. May I never take your love for granted; may I never seek what belongs to others. May I love, serve and live in you so that that you can love, serve and live through me. AMEN.
Daily Note
He came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Paul the Apostles states that Jesus emptied himself and took the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7). Jesus lowered himself (he whose place is at the right hand of God the Father) and took on our lowly nature that he might raise us up and clothe us in his divine nature. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). If we want to be filled with God’s life and power, then we need to empty ourselves of everything which stands in the way — pride, self-seeking glory, vanity, etc. God wants empty vessels so he can fill them with his own glory, power, and love (2 Cor. 4:7). Are you ready to humble yourself and to serve as Jesus did?
