The Mightiest in the Kingdom

There was once a lion who wanted to prove that he was the mightiest, the strongest in the animal kingdom. Confident in his power, he began to walk around the jungle. First, he met a mouse. He roared at the mouse and asked, "Who is the mightiest in the kingdom?" Trembling with fear, the mouse replied, "You are, Lion. You are." Feeling proud, the lion continued his journey and met a horse. Again, he roared and asked, "Who is the mightiest in the kingdom?" The horse, terrified, answered, "You are, Lion. You are." Puffed up with pride, the lion walked further and encountered an elephant. As before, the lion roared, "Who is the mightiest in the kingdom?" The elephant looked at the lion, wrapped its trunk around him, and hurled him 10 feet away. The lion stood up, dusted himself off, and said, "Mr. Elephant, if you don't know the answer to my question, you could just say so! You don't have to be nasty about it!"

In the jungle, in this world, many seek to prove their greatness. We strive to be the strongest, the wealthiest, the most powerful, and the most famous. We measure success by these standards. Jesus reminds us that in God's Kingdom, true greatness is not found in power or status but in humility and service.

The disciples argued about who among them was the greatest. They also believed that greatness was measured by position and authority. Jesus, knowing their hearts, turned the conversation upside down. He said, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last and servant of all." Jesus redefined what it means to be great in the Kingdom of God.

The lion in our story sought greatness through intimidation and pride, which led to his humiliation. But Jesus teaches us that true greatness is found not in how high we can elevate ourselves but in how low we can stoop to serve others. Greatness is not in being served but in serving. It's not in putting ourselves above others but in putting ourselves at their feet in humility and love.

Jesus illustrates this by placing a child among the disciples and saying, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me." At that time, children had no social status or power. They were entirely dependent on others. By using a child as an example, Jesus shows us that we are called to care for the vulnerable, the powerless, and those society deems insignificant. In doing so, we serve not just them but Christ Himself.

We might be tempted to seek recognition, power, or success as the world defines it. Jesus calls us to a different path—a path of humility, service, and love. In God's Kingdom, the mightiest and the strongest are those who serve with love, putting others before themselves. NQ

Excellence, Respect, and Friendship

The Olympics is a global event that unites people from all corners of the world, transcending race, color, lifestyle, and faith. It is a time when we showcase our shared humanity and our best through the spirit of sportsmanship.

The three values celebrated in the Olympic Games are excellence, respect, and friendship. 

Sadly, at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris, a portrayal mocking Christianity and its central belief in the Eucharist was included. (I don't have to describe it to you. You can easily search for it online, or you probably tuned in and saw it on television.) This portrayal trivialized the sacred moment when Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

The Eucharist is not merely a ritual; it is the very heart of our Christian life. Vatican II calls the Eucharist the "source and summit of our faith."

In the Eucharist, we encounter the real presence of Christ, who feeds and nourishes us just as He miraculously fed more than 5000 people in the Gospel. 

The Olympics, which aim to unite people of different backgrounds and beliefs, have failed to respect Christianity and its faith. Do you think they would dare mock other religions in such a way? We know the answer. The disrespect highlights a bigger issue in our world today, where the values of respect and inclusivity are sometimes applied selectively.

As followers of Christ, how should we respond to this? 

First and foremost, we are called to forgive. As Jesus teaches us, we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, asking God to open their hearts (and ours) to understanding and respect.

Second, we must stand firm in our faith by celebrating the Eucharist well, recognizing it as the true bread from heaven that sustains us.

Finally, just as Jesus fed the multitude, we are called to feed our world so hungry for true friendship and respect. In a world that often misunderstands or dismisses our Catholic Christian faith, we are called to be living examples of the love, respect, and friendship that the Olympics aspire to celebrate. NQ

Deeper Faith, Not Contempt

You have likely heard the saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt." This phrase means that the better we know or become more familiar with someone or something, the more likely we find their faults and ordinariness, often leading to dislike or a lack of respect or appreciation.

In today's gospel reading, we see an example of familiarity breeding contempt. Jesus returned to His hometown, and the people who had known Him since childhood could not accept the ordinariness of His presence. They knew His family well: His mother, Mary, and relatives. They saw Him grow up as a carpenter's son. Despite the wisdom and miracles He displayed, their familiarity with His ordinary upbringing bred contempt. They could not reconcile the divine grace in the man they had seen grow up among them.

Sometimes, we also find it hard to see the grace of God right under our noses. In the ordinariness of life, in the moments of misunderstanding and hurt, in the acts of care and compassion, the grace of God and the love of God are active and alive. Yet, we might miss these divine manifestations because they come to us in familiar and ordinary forms.

When the people of Nazareth allowed their familiarity with Jesus to breed contempt, they missed out on a great opportunity. Jesus, as a result, chose to take His message and blessings elsewhere because of their lack of faith. A similar tragedy can happen to us if we let our familiarity with the divine in our everyday lives lead to contempt and disregard. We risk losing the blessings that God offers us.

The secret is to pay close attention to Jesus's words. By immersing ourselves in Scripture and staying grounded in the sacraments and prayer, our familiarity with Christ's teachings will lead to greater blessings and deeper faith rather than contempt.

Prayer, in particular, helps us stay attuned to God's presence in the ordinary moments of our lives. NQ