In today's first reading, James 4: 1-10, challenges us to answer the questions: "Where do the wars and where to the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within our members?" If my passion is to be number one, to win at all costs, I will set myself out to take down anyone who attempts to block me from achieving that goal. This is not only true on a personal level, it is also true of nations or countries that insist on being number 1! Military buildups operate, I believe, in this same way.
Do we not, in many cases, teach our children that they, too, must win over others and sometimes at any cost! Setting ourselves in conflict against others and needing to be the greatest, the smartest, the BEST in whatever we do and in whatever competition we enter is not what Jesus teaches in today's Gospel, Mark 9: 30-37. When the disciples are arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, He said to them: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Jesus did not flaunt being the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of all. In fact He makes it clear that He did not come to be served but to serve! He modeled service when He washed his disciples feet and says to the disciples: Do you see what I have done for you. Do likewise!
Lord, have mercy on us when our passions make war within ourselves and with our fellow human beings! May we learn from you to be the servant of all and not seek to be first in anything! May we also honestly answer St. James' questions of the sources of our conflicts with others!
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