Homily for September 20, 2009

    In this gospel passage from Mark, we see the disciples angling to be number one. We see Jesus sit down to give spiritual direction or correction to them. Jesus’ words formed his disciples for serving, and they form us today in our ‘continuing education’ for serving in our ‘Capernaum.’
    In this scene Jesus teaches us how to receive the least among us, the child. Notice he puts his arms around it, a lovely detail. The child is small, dependent, needing care. It has not yet learned the vices mentioned in the Letter of James: treachery, envy, blind ambition: the impulses that lead to war, both within the self and among others. James tell us, rather, “cultivate peace.”
    In order to receive the child, each of us must become a child again. We too need God’s care and discipline. We must in a sense unlearn the formation we have received from the world: ‘Put aside worldly ambition,’ Christ teaches us. In particular, Jesus is teaching his disciples the importance of disciplining the ambition that puts ‘me’ first. But receiving the child, the stranger, the widow, the orphan, a precept of the Hebrew Scriptures, requires discipline -- and practice. Disciplined practice builds good habits. Good habits create virtue in the person who practices them as St. Thomas Aquinas tells us. UK students, you will learn this in your western civilization or philosophy courses. You will learn that Jesus was a great philosopher and psychologist, that is, a change agent and a builder of virtuous behavior. Do the action and you will feel virtuous. Now, you must have felt virtuous while doing selfless actions on fusion day, no?! So what if you cut your finger or got poison ivy! A small price to pay, no?
    We need continual reminders -- because we forget. So we have the Eucharist to strengthen us and the sacrament of reconciliation to heal us when we fail -- and think we are the greatest. In these sacramental encounters, we receive God’s love and God’s mercy. This is an important lesson to learn here at UK. As you grow in professional competence, receive the child in your midst and the child in yourself. As you grow great cognitively and professionally, grow childlike spiritually so Jesus can put his arms around you. God has given you great gifts. The ‘children’ of God have a right to receive these gifts from you. Know that you become great in God’s eyes when you serve the child, in your Capernaum. You have role models among you here – people who have been serving for years. Observe them and do likewise. And, you role models, remember that you are role models. Together we serve God and grow great in God’s eyes.