Sunday 22nd of September 2014 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 2:12,17-20/ Psalm 53(54)/ James 3:16-4:3/ Mark 9:30-37

‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ A saying attributed to the 19th century British politician Lord Acton. It is easy to make sweeping comments about those in positions of power especially politicians. History tells us clearly that a position of power can easily lead to corruption but not all people in power end up corrupt. The issue is to be aware of the dangers and to avoid falling for the temptations that come with power. The readings today make comparisons between wisdom and folly, the wise and the foolish. There are strong warnings that jealousy and ambition lead to disharmony even amongst the closest followers of Jesus. The Christian way of leadership and the exercise of power should be in the spirit of service and availability.

We live in an increasingly godless world in which our faith can be seen as annoying because it opposes the world’s way of life. Conflict arises in the areas concerning the value and sanctity of life. It is now the way of the world to judge the value of a human in many ways including their financial value or burden. The numbers of innocent lives killed in what should be the safest place for a child before their birth is staggering. The seriously sick and the elderly are now being encouraged to remove themselves from the obligation of society to care for them, and refugees fleeing wars, famine and financial disaster are turned away. We hear the taunts of the foolish against the wise all around us. People in power who should have the best interests of all in mind are swayed by the influence of those whose taunts are loudest. A world centred life leads to a moral void. The Christian way of living is seen as futile by the godless because they must grab as much gratification as they can in this life while our gratification, our reward, is held for us in the next. Christianity teaches us that God will provide for us and in the face of death we have been saved. The psalm for today proclaims the deliverance from a ruthless and godless people with the assistance from God being assured.

There should be a distinct difference between leadership in the Christian community and that of the secular world. Ambition and the lust for power can lead people to take immoral and unethical paths to get ahead. Worldly power is one of the most dangerous forces on earth and has led to countless deaths and immense suffering. Most scandalously some of this death and suffering has been done under the flags of religion. History shows us that the human condition can bring many evils into the world through people craving power even when it ultimately leads to their own downfall.

Jesus gave clear instructions that personal ambition and the seeking of status has no place in his church. Those who exercise authority for and in the Christian community are not to follow the rulers of the world who ‘rule it over’ people. Sadly, this clearly given teaching has often been ignored. Although many Christians through the ages have followed these instructions and left examples of inspiring leadership and service, there have been many examples whereby positions of authority have been used to pursue selfish personal aims. The urge to be served rather than serve is very strong in the human condition. The definitive good example is Jesus, who, although God, served to the ultimate by giving his own life on the cross. This is the example of discipleship and service that we are called to follow.

It is not always easy to be an authentic follower of Jesus, dangers can lurk everywhere. The reading from the book of Wisdom speaks of the godless who seek to destroy the good person. Notably they recognise their opponent as being virtuous but feel that the contrasting life to theirs is a reproach to them. The same thing happened to Jesus, his teaching and example became a reproach to the very people he had come to save, so much so that they felt more comfortable to destroy him than listen to his words. Even his own disciples failed to understand the ultimate service that Jesus was predicting that he would offer. His closest followers insisted on discussing their own status amongst themselves.

We must be aware of our interior motives and grasp how different to the world we are expected to be. As James warns in his letter, selfish ambition can only lead to disorder and wicked behaviour. We know this to be true from our own experience, we see examples of people who will stop at nothing to get to the top. The Christian way, the way Jesus showed us to live, means we must not serve ourselves but serve the neediest, the most beloved of God, the poor, sick, homeless, the unborn child, the elderly, those who are despised by the world. The least in the world are the ones who have status in God’s eyes. Our service to those in need must be given without condition, expecting nothing in return. Authority in our community is identified through service not power and status.

God Bless Brendan.