The Last Shall Be First
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
The Catholic Church is pro-life and pro-family because Jesus is pro-life and pro-family. The reason that we often return to this concept of the importance of life, marriage, and family in our prayer, is because these are some of the main cultural battles we are facing today. If we lived in the midst of WWII we would have talked and prayed about the evils on Nazism because it was a threat to humans and human good. In today’s world, we have to talk and pray about life, marriage, and family because they are under attack.
Couples and families must have an attitude of openness and generosity toward having children and prioritizing their needs. Historically, large families have always been seen as a blessing. Today, many in our society see children as a burden. Even among Catholics there are some who think that large families are irresponsible, old fashioned, or not worth all the work. The Church says otherwise. The vows of marriage say otherwise. Jesus says otherwise. And any large family would say otherwise. Reread Jesus’ words: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me.” If we are to live as reasonable humans (let alone good Catholics) we need to let Jesus—not secular culture, entertainment, or TV—form our concept of family.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
