The best approach to God is that of complete openness and docility to learn and to accept all from Him. The psalmist of Psalm 139 says it aptly: “O Lord, you search me, and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways” (Ps 139:1). Since God knows everything about us, our success depends only on surrendering to His will. This means worshipping Him with a heart and mind totally open and trustful. This is the summary of all the three biblical readings of this day.
Being Prepared to Accept Whatever
The first reading from the book of Sirach (2:1-11) calls for a radical disposition to accept anything in the course of living a life of service to God. Sirach presents suffering as a necessary discipline which all who serve God faithfully must be ready to accept. It is a test through which one arrives at success. One should be ready to stand in justice and fear, ready for trials and temptations, ready to remain steadfast and attentive to teaching, ready to remain undisturbed in times of adversity and to wait for God with patience, trusting God in times of sorrow and misfortune. The fact is that God is compassionate. And so, mercy, joy and lasting protection await those who persevere to the end. The responsorial psalm (Psalm 37) invites us to commit our lives to God as He alone is our helper in times of need.
Receiving the Gospel like a Trustful Child
In the Gospel of today from Mark (9:30-37), Jesus presents a little child as the epitome of good reception of his message. A little child is associated with innocence of heart and trusts whatever is communicated to it. Little children have remained in all ages as symbols of innocence and trustfulness. The selflessness required in the followership of Christ demands the docility, single-mindedness and trustfulness associated with little children. Without such, the message of the Cross which Jesus communicates to his disciples in the day’s Gospel remains difficult to understand and to accept.
In fact, the disciples did not understand Jesus while he spoke about the Son of Man being handed over to be killed and to rise on the third day. They didn’t understand. And they refused to ask questions, because the matter did not appear reasonable to them. People usually raise questions on matters that interest them. The interest of the disciples was rather about greatness, and Jesus knew. Preaching a life of total self surrender and sacrificial love does not always interest people who are more interested in self affirmation and self- actualization. Jesus makes it clear that the Christian community is not about lust for power and struggles for positions of power but readiness to do the will of God and to dedicate oneself to the humble service of others.
The Challenge of Selfless Worship Today
The admonition to self surrender is a great challenge to our age and society where people use every means to enhance their social esteem, including religion. For some, religious worship has become a huge business venture. And so, talking of accepting hard realities from God is like talking to the wind. But the word of God has a way of bringing us back to our senses. The readings of today remind us that the future belongs only to those who worship God with humility and trust, those who remain focused in both good and bad times.
