The Friday after the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 5, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 9:33-37 (NKJV)
9:33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Devotion
Strive not to be great as a lord and master. Strive to be great as a minister and servant. The disciples had a flawed understanding of what the Messiah’s kingdom would be like. They think of worldly greatness. But Jesus says that the first shall be last. Being “last” is not always a punishment for bad behavior. Being “last” is sometimes the goal to which one should aspire. The greatest is he who is the servant; it is the mind-set that makes others important over oneself.
Jesus uses a child as an example. The child is not meant in a metaphorical way, as in a child in the faith or a new Christian. Jesus means receiving an actual child. Children are of low status in society, so they are perfect examples of lowliness and humility. Serving the child is serving Jesus and the Father. No greater service can be rendered. Status and glory in Christ’s kingdom are very different from the world. Service is counted as greatness. Humility is counted as status.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
