Being Different
(Wis.2:12,17-20; Jas.3:16-4.3; Mk.9:30-37)
Most people don’t like being different. They’d rather fit in than stand out from the crowd.
That’s because our society values sameness. It loves the familiar. Early in life, we all learn that if you’re too different you’ll be teased, ridiculed or excluded in some way. So, most of us try hard to fit in, and we do this by adopting the fashions and culture of the time.
This is what got Peter into trouble in last week’s Gospel. He objected to Jesus talking about His coming death and resurrection, and Jesus replied, ‘Get behind me Satan! You’re thinking not as God does, but as humans do.’
Peter was shocked. He had been taught that success is all about ambition, power and putting yourself first. That’s what our world teaches us today, too, but God doesn’t think like we do (Is.55:8-9).
In today’s Gospel, Jesus again talks about his coming Passion, but none of his disciples hears or understands Him. Instead, they argue about which of them is the greatest.
So, Jesus tells them straight: if you want to be My disciple, you must be different. If you want to be first, then put yourself last. If you want to achieve greatness, then make yourself small. And if you want to become masters, then humble yourself by becoming the servant of others.
All this is very counter-cultural.
To emphasise His message, Jesus places a little child in among His disciples, and tells them that it’s time to stop worrying about themselves. Instead, they should focus on the little ones – the most vulnerable in society, because that’s how you welcome the Messiah and the Father who sent Him.
Many people are puzzled at this point. To develop a good spiritual life, they wonder, must I give up everything and turn my back on the world?
The answer is no.
Consider this story. There was once an old monk who prayed for years for a vision from God to strengthen his faith, but it never came. He had almost given up hope when one day a vision appeared. The old monk was overjoyed.
But then, right in the middle of his vision, the monastery bell rang. That bell meant it was time to feed the poor who came to the monastery gate each day.
It was this old monk’s turn to feed them. If he didn’t show up, those poor people would leave, thinking that the monastery had nothing for them. He was torn between his earthly duty and his heavenly vision.
But, before the bell stopped ringing, he decided. With a heavy heart, he left the vision and went to feed the poor.
An hour later, the monk returned to his room. When he opened the door, he could hardly believe his eyes. The vision was still there, waiting for him. As the monk dropped to his knees in thanksgiving, the vision said to him, ‘My son, had you not gone off to feed the poor, I would not have stayed.’ [i]
The message here is that if you want divine inspiration, if you want spiritual joy, the best thing you can do is to serve God by helping someone else.
In today’s second reading, St James says there are two kinds of wisdom. The first is worldly wisdom, but embedded deep inside it are jealousy and ambition, which simply cause misery.
The second kind of wisdom, however, comes from above. It comes from God. This wisdom is pure and genuine, and it brings peace. It’s kindly, considerate and full of compassion, and it’s only concerned with doing good.
How do we get some of this wisdom? St James tells us: by praying, and by being different. By understanding that it’s time to stop trying to be like everyone else.
By accepting that if you want to be first, then make sure that you’re last of all and servant of all.
Statue of William and Charles Mayo
Let’s close with a little story. In 1914, Dr Charles Mayo started the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota with his father and brother. At one time, a group of European medical experts were guests at Dr Mayo’s home.
Following the custom of the day, the guests placed their shoes outside their bedroom doors to be polished during the night. Dr Charles was the last to retire. As he went to his room he noticed the shoes.
It was too late to wake the servants, so with a sigh he gathered up all the footwear, took them into the kitchen and spent half the night polishing them. [ii]
[i] Michael Hayes, Homilies for the Whole Community, Year B, Twenty-Third Publications, New London CT, 2005:158-159.
[ii] Gerard Fuller, Stories for All Seasons, Twenty-Third Publications, Mystic CT, 1997:83-84.