Reading: Mark 9:30-37
Theme: Who is the greatest? Or is it "how" is the greatest?
Interesting that the question of who is the greatest comes up just after Jesus has let the disciples know he's not going to be around much longer. Naturally they start thinking of leadership succession, and each one has their own thoughts about who is best qualified to take over.
The obsessive-compulsives, of course, think they should lead because they really do believe chaos will come if they aren't in charge. But all such personality disorders aside, I'm sure each of the disciples has their own definition of greatness, and their own choice of who really should lead the community once Jesus is gone.
I wonder what criteria, what resume items, and what attributes and achievements they considered and argued about? How do we think about and measure leadership in the community of faith? In the community or country? In our homes and families? What do we think it takes to lead and be great or strong in God's way, and in the way the world needs?
And ... after very seriously compiling and checking and refining our list of needed attributes and achievements, and identifying our candidate, or even brushing up our own leadership skills to match what we think a good leader does ... what do we make of Jesus' little prophetic action of stepping outside the circle to bring in an as-yet-not-valued outsider, and telling us to go and do likewise -- that when do things like this, we truly open ourselves to the presence of God?
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