Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
“Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.””
Overview
When life is tough it is tempting to resort to soothing assurances, but today’s readings both encourage brutal honesty. The prophet Jeremiah, 11:18-20, writing at the time of the exile, the destruction of his people, his homeland and his hopes, speaks honestly to God of his despair, his fear and his desire for retribution. Both the people and their God need to voice how bad things are, how wounded they are, before they can rebuild.
In the gospel passage, Mark 9:30-37, Jesus is again telling hard truths to his followers, that his path is to suffer, and they do not want to hear. In response he puts a child in their midst as their instructor and guide. A child knows that she is not in control of her life, that she cannot will things to be as she wishes. Instead she must learn to trust, and trust can only be built on truth, however hard it is to hear.
Readings
FIRST READING
Jeremiah 11:18-20
It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew;
then you showed me their evil deeds.
But I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter.
And I did not know it was against me
that they devised schemes, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will no longer be remembered!”
But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously,
who try the heart and the mind,
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause..
GOSPEL
Mark 9:30-37
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
