Fr. Rick’s Gospel Reflection for Monday 26th Week in Ordinary Time

October 1, 2024, Luke 9:46-50 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/093024.cfm

Rivalry

Rivalry can be a good thing.
It brings out a player’s talents and abilities hidden within the player.
Sports announcers play up this rivalry between two teams, often mentioning past games or pennant races to get the fans riled up. And it works. 

The disciples had a rivalry going among themselves.
You can hear them comparing notes when they returned from a mission Jesus sent them on.
“Oh yeah, well, I can top that miracle.” And Jesus is sitting back and saying, “Hmmm, they don’t get it.”  

Living the Christian life with Jesus isn’t a competition.
Status and achievement mean nothing to Him if our hearts are bent on showing up to others.
Jesus picks up a child and puts him by His side to make His point.
In our Lord’s time, a child had no more importance than an enslaved person. 

Just as small children can do nothing without their parents because they are dependent on their parents for everything, we can do nothing without Jesus.
It’s not that Jesus wants us to remain immature or naïve, oblivious to what is happening around us.
Instead, being like a child, as Jesus insists, is a disposition that helps us know beyond a doubt that all we have that is good is a gift, grace upon grace poured out in our lives because our focus is Jesus. 
Only God can work miracles and change people’s hearts and lives.

We look to Jesus for everything and want to do nothing without Him.
We rejoice when others experience this gift because someone else knows the Lord and bears fruit in His Name.  

Gospel Challenge!
So, never compare yourself and your achievements to another human being.
If you do any comparing, compare yourself to Christ Jesus.
He will swallow up all vainglory and pride because no one in Christ wants to be like others. All we want is to be like Christ Jesus.

He alone is our measure. 

 Love Your Neighbor!

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
pastor@bscchurch.com