Gospel Reading September 20, 2009

Mark 9:30-37:
• “He did not want anyone to know it" - Mark's gospel contains the "messianic secret" theme. Jesus was constantly trying to hide or obscure his true identity. Why do you think Jesus wouldn't want people to know his identity?

• What would you think if a person was predicting death and suffering for themselves? These days, we'd probably (rightly) want the person to get psychological help, worrying that they were depressed or suicidal. How do you think Jesus expected his followers to react? •

Apparently, the disciples weren't too bothered but Jesus words; they were busy talking about who was greatest among them. Jesus calls his followers to embrace humility, to think of serving others rather than competing for greatness and accolades.

• Jesus uses a child as a symbol of someone who needs to be served and helped? What does it mean to welcome a child? What does it mean to help others as we would care for a child? Think of the kind of care a child requires? What kind of service is this?

• In Jesus day children had a low social status. They had no legal status of their own. The Old Testament call to care for widows and orphans was a call to care for those who were most vulnerable in society; apart from their husbands and fathers, widows and orphans had no rights. They held no property and so could not repay kindness or confer status as a reward. In this context Jesus takes a child and calls his followers to welcome them. Who are the lowly, those without status that we are called to welcome today? Who are the vulnerable people on the margins of life that we need to serve in Jesus name?