Tuesday of 7th Week in Ordinary Time (Yr. 1): reflection

Theme: How to arrive at greatness the godly way

Reading: James 4:1–10; Mk 9:30–37

Our world has continued to witness tremendous transformation and growth in many fields far from what was handed over to us by the people of old. Regrettably, our approach towards what we want is yet to be rapidly transformed for the better.

To get what they wanted, the people of old fought and killed themselves in barbaric manner. The people of our time, who have acknowledged how wrong the people of old were in this regard, are yet to prove themselves better than the people of old. Our world has rather perfected how to barbarically wipe out human beings within seconds and with a snap of the finger in order to get what they want, because our new weaponry is designed for mass destruction. Our world has continued to be a theatre of conflicts and war.

But where do these conflicts come from? St James told us in today’s first reading that they come from our personal desires and cravings, which we often allow to turn into envy when they are not met; from envy, they develop into plans to eliminate others through conflicts, wars and killings in other to reach our goals/desires by all means, believing that the end will justify the means.

What should we do to stop this dangerous tendency in us? What can we do to subdue this ugly spirit that rages in us when our desires are not met? St James suggests that we should be humble. Humility helps us to accept our present state while working positively to improve on it. That was why when Jesus noticed the traces of envy, jealousy and craving for greatness among his disciples in today’s gospel, he charged them to choose the path of achieving their greatness through humility and humble services to others, rather than by battling, maiming and killing those who stand in their way.

Do you wish to be great? Don’t choose the path of arriving at greatness by killing and destroying people who stand in your way, because the end does not justify the means. Rather, Jesus invites you to humbly acknowledge your present state and positively work towards improving it through humble services to humanity.

May God give value to the humble works of your hands this Tuesday. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima