Good Shepherd Catholic Parish

Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6, 8 (R: “The Lord upholds my life.”); James 3:16–4:3; Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and the disciples have journeyed home to Galilee, but Jesus “did not wish anyone to know about it.” He continues to teach them more specially in this part of the Gospel of Mark. For a second time, Jesus tells them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” “Son of Man” is Jesus’ way to refer to himself in the Gospels. It is used in the Old Testament in a number of ways: to address a male man, to contrast human beings with God and angels, for a figure at the end times who is given all dominion and power (in contrast to other nations/kingdoms; see Daniel 7:13-14, which is alluded to by the risen Lord in Matthew 28:18).

The disciples “did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.” They are not even good students, because good students ask their teacher to clarify the lesson when it has not been understood. We don’t know how long they journeyed from the time Jesus again taught about his passion, death and resurrection to the time they arrived at the house in Capernaum. During that time, however, rather than ask Jesus about what he taught, they “were … arguing … on the way?” So Jesus, a good teacher, asks his “disciples” (the word means, “students”) what the topic was. “But they remained silent.” Were they embarrassed? Did they feel guilty? Or did they just not want to fess up to their competition about “who was the greatest.” Right now, none of them are acting in great ways, so perhaps the issue is “who’s the least small”.

Jesus didn’t need an answer from them; he had heard them well enough. Mark can use “disciples” to refer to a larger group than “the Twelve” apostles. Now in the house, however, Jesus speaks only to “the Twelve”—likely they thought that one of them was the candidate for “the greatest.” They had, of course, already been chosen out of a larger group of disciples (Mark 3:13-19); they had also been sent on a mission (Mark 6:7-13, 30). For Jesus, however, greatness is measured in humility and service: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” He heightens the teaching by using a child to make his point: “…putting his arms around [the child], he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.’” Like today, children were valued, but they were also vulnerable. They did not have “social status” per se, so to receive a child in Jesus’s name is a true act of humbling oneself and serving a vulnerable person. In that act, one receives Jesus and God the Father who sent him!

It is not surprising that the apostles are slow to fully understand Jesus. They had left everything to follow this man, powerful in word and deed. They even were given Jesus’ authority and power when sent on a mission. Clearly their argument over who is the “greatest” points to a thought that they would eventually have some renown and importance. Jesus’ predictions of his passion and death were counter to their expectations. After Jesus’ resurrection, with 20-20 hindsight, they began to recall sacred texts, such as the suffering servant songs in Isaiah that I noted last week. Many Jews would have known also of Wisdom’s poem about the wicked who find “the just one” to be “obnoxious.” They would also have known from that poem that God would defend his son. These connections could have come to their minds, because of the history of many prophets and religious leaders being persecuted and even killed. Nevertheless, they did not see these connections in the moment; after Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, however, their eyes of faith were opened even more to understand what Jesus had said and done, and see more connections to their sacred texts (there was no “canon” of Scriptures as of yet).

Except for Judas Iscariot, we know that the apostles spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, founded communities, brought the Lord’s Supper and his healing to people, etc. The Letter of James reflects the early communities’ attitudes, values, virtues and vices to be avoided; the letter also encourages an integrity between faith and works that come from that faith—the very service that Jesus encouraged. May you and I have our eyes of faith opened a bit wider through the Word and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Then we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, will be able to face whatever challenges and suffering that are part of our following of Jesus. We will also, be of greater service to all persons, especially the vulnerable, for in that, we receive Jesus Christ himself, and the One who sent him, God the Father.

This is a “Stewardship Prayer” from Our Sunday Visitor. This prayer provides all of us good food for reflection.

My parish is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
It will be holy, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship, if I invite and bring them in.
It will be a place of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith,
of compassion, charity and mercy,
if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God,
I now dedicate myself to the task of being all
the things that I want my parish to be.
Amen.

PASTOR
Rev. Timothy A. Friedrichsen
206 N 2nd Street  PO Box 39
Breda, IA  51436
Breda Rectory Office (712-673-2351) t.a.friedrichsen@gmail.com

BOOKKEEPER/ADM ASSISTANT
Cindy Lawler
Good Shepherd Catholic Parish
304 N 2nd Street  PO Box 29
Breda IA  51436
Phone: 712-673-2582
Office Hours Mon - Fri: 8:30am-2:30pm 
goodshepherd@westianet.net

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST-Arcadia
Julie Eich, Administrative Assistant
Office Hours: Mon & Fri 7:30-11:30 am Phone: 712-689-2595
stjohnarcadia@gmail.com

ST AUGUSTINE-Halbur
Rosie Sporrer, Administrative Assistant
Office Hours Mon & Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Phone: 712-658-2464
Fax: 712-658-2464 staug@iowatelecom.net