Faith Daily | 26 September 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p583

Loving Father,

whose Son Jesus Christ has taught us

that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters

we do also for him:

give us the will to be the servant of others

as he was the servant of all,

who gave up his life and died for us,

and yet lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 9: 46-50

46 An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. 47But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, 48and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’

49 John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ 50But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Catriona Tullberg

Who will the greatest? I remember arguments at school about who will do best? What does best mean? My idea is better than yours. You do not know that.

We go back to the authority we have heard most clearly – and how reliable is that and what judges are we of that. We take a long time to discern between all the ideas we hear.

Jesus said that little children being the least among you are the greatest and that people become great in God’s sight when they look away from self to revere God. Jesus calls the disciples to serve, not to dominate. We are all loved by God. How difficult is this for us to live by; our ego can be very dominant. Do I have generosity to appreciate God’s work in others, or the patience and freedom from attachment to appreciate God’s work in others?

FINAL PRAYER Michael Leunig

God help us up to rise up from our struggle.

Like a tree rises up from the soil.

Our roots reaching down to our trouble,

Our rich, dark dirt of existence.

Finding nourishment deeply and holding us firmly.

Always connected. Growing upwards and into the sun.

Amen.