26th Sunday in Ordinary time, Year B
This week's Gospel is from Mark 9:30-37 in which the disciples learn a lesson in envy, humility and faith.
In one telling scene outside of these important life lessons, Jesus asks his disciples as they walked through Galilee, "what were you arguing about?" (The disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest.) They respond as many of us do when faced with a realization we have strayed from the teachings of Christ...dead silence. Jesus doesn't judge, but he doesn't pull any punches when he confronts our sinfulness.
No wonder the disciples feared to answer. When conscience catches up with us we want to go silent. Perhaps we dread the Sacrament of Reconciliation with God for our sins. Perhaps we dread confessing the same sin, again and again.
What is essential to the growth of our relationship with Christ is to look up from our feet and speak our truth. We messed up, we strayed from the path, we forgot the teaching, we actually believed we were out of God's earshot or sight.
Jesus invites us to confront our sinfulness, regularly. And like the disciples in this Gospel reading, we have the opportunity at Mass to take a break from the journey of life and rest for a while in the house of God; to learn at the feet of Jesus the rabbi.
We should take it. See you next Sunday.
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