Ｗoever is least among the community is the greatest.

Jesus turned worldly views of power and status upside down

by showing that true honor comes from serving others rather than seeking authority.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Job 1:6-22 

One day

The heavenly beings came to present themselves before Yahweh,

and Satan came with them. Yahweh asked Satan, "Where have you been?"

Satan answered, "Going up and down the earth, roaming about." Yahweh asked again,

"Have you noticed my servant Job? No one on earth is as blameless and upright as he,

a man who fears God and avoids evil." 

 

But Satan returned the question, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Have you not built a protective wall around him and his family and all his possessions?

You have blessed and prospered him, with his livestock all over the land.

But stretch out your hand and strike where his riches are, and I bet he will curse you to your face." 

 

Yahweh said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power.

But do not lay a finger upon the man himself." So Satan left the presence of Yahweh.

One day, while his sons and daughters were feasting in the house of their eldest brother,

a messenger came to Job and said, "Your oxen were ploughing,

and your donkeys were grazing nearby when the Sabaeans came and carried them off.

They killed the herdsmen. I alone escaped to tell you." While he was still speaking,

another messenger came, "God's fire fell from the sky and burned all your sheep and the shepherds as well.

I alone have escaped to tell you." He had hardly finished speaking when another messenger arrived,

"Three raiding teams of Chaldeans have killed your servants and carried off your camels.

I alone have escaped to tell you." He was still speaking when another messenger came and said to Job,

"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking in the house of their eldest brother

when suddenly a great wind blew across the desert and struck the house.

It collapsed on the young people and they all died. I alone have escaped to tell you." 

 

In grief Job tore his clothes and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshipped,

saying, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked shall I return. Yahweh gave,

Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be his name!" In spite of this calamity, Job did not sin by blaspheming God. 

 

Ps 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7 

 Incline your ear to me and hear my word

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 9:46-50

One day, the disciples were arguing about which of them was the most important.

But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he took a little child and stood him by his side.

Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name, welcomes me;

and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. And listen;

the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest."

Then John spoke up, "Master, we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon your name,

and we tried to forbid him, because he doesn't follow you with us."

But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him. He who is not against you is for you." 

 

Gospel Reflection ：

He who is least among you all is the one who is great.

Pride, arrogance, and egoism are often the sources of conflict or strife.

If only each of us could be humble, we could avoid misunderstandings. Jesus reminded his disciples:

"he  pwho is least among you all is the one who is great." A community cannot have peace without humility.

As disciples of Jesus, we are expected to be understanding, gentle, and humble

because we are the bearers of peace in the world. May we be instruments of unity and peace,

not division in our community.