Gospel – Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling 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.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, 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.”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
What member of the Lasallian family would not have a heart that bursts with joy at this good news.
Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me – receives not me, but the One who sent me.
The challenge is to receive each child “in my name.”
This phrase means the way Jesus receives each child, receives me, receives sinners, receives all.
Jesus receives each person with unconditional love, complete forgiveness, total acceptance.
Can I do the same?
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.