Naghalin sila sa sadto nga lugar kag nagpadayon sa paglakat nga nagaagi sa Galilea. Indi luyag ni Jesus nga mahibaluan kon diin sia,
Kay nagapanudlo sia sa iya mga gintuton-an nga nagasiling, “Ang Anak sang Tawo igatugyan sa mga tawo nga magapatay sa iya, pero sa tapos ang tatlo ka adlaw, pagabanhawon sia.”
Wala sila makahangop kon ano ang kahulogan sini, pero nahadlok sila sa pagpamangkot sa iya.
Nag-abot sila sa Capernaum, kag sang nakasulod na si Jesus sa balay, nagpamangkot sia sa iya mga gintuton-an, “Ano bala ang ginbaisan ninyo sa dalanon?”
Pero wala sila magsabat sa iya kay man ang ila ginbaisan amo kon sin-o sa ila ang labing daku.
Naglingkod si Jesus kag gintawag niya ang dose ka mga apostoles kag nagsiling sa ila, “Kon sin-o ang luyag mangin-una sa tanan, dapat magpaulihi sa tanan kag manginsuloguon sang tanan.”
Nagkuha sia sing isa ka bata kag ginpatindog sa atubangan nila. Ginkugos niya ini kag nagsiling sa ila,
“Ang tawo nga nagabaton sang isa sining mga bata sa akon ngalan, nagabaton sa akon, kag ang nagabaton sa akon, wala lamang nagabaton sa akon, kundi nagabaton man sang nagpadala sa akon.”
Prayers:
"Lord Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world and revealed your
glory and triumph over sin and death. May I never fail to see your
glory and victory in the cross. Help me to conform my life to your will
and to follow in your way of holiness."
***
Reflection of the Daily Gospel:
Whose glory do you seek? There can be no share in God's glory without the cross. When Jesus prophesied his own betrayal and crucifixion, it did not make any sense to his disciples because it did not fit their understanding of what the Messiah came to do. And they were afraid to ask further questions! Like a person who might receive a bad verdict from the doctor and then refuse to ask further questions, they, too, didn't want to know any more. How often do we reject what we do not wish to see? We have heard the good news of God's word and we know the consequences of accepting it or rejecting it. But do we give it our full allegiance and mold our lives according to it? Ask the Lord to fill you with his Holy Spirit and to inspire within you a reverence for his word and a readiness to obey it.
How ashamed the disciples must have been when Jesus overheard them arguing about who among them was the greatest! But aren’t we like the disciples? We compare ourselves with others and desire their praise. The appetite for glory and greatness seems to be inbred in us. Who doesn't cherish the ambition to be "somebody" whom others admire rather than a "nobody"? Even the psalms speak about the glory God has destined for us. You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5). Jesus made a dramatic gesture by embracing a child to show his disciples who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God. What can a little child possibly teach us about greatness? Children in the ancient world had no rights, position, or privileges of their own. They were socially at the "bottom of the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household staff and domestic servants. What is the significance of Jesus' gesture? Jesus elevated a little child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged position of honor. It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom? 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.
Jesus, himself, is our model. He came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Paul the Apostle states that Jesus emptied himself and took the form of a servant (Philippians 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 Corinthians 4:7). Are you ready to humble yourself and to serve as Jesus did?
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