A Commentary for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB

26th Sunday in O.T. September 27, 2009
Mark :9:38-48

Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us. v. 38

Why do we want to protect our “special rights” so readily—rights of respect, authority, power, tenure etc.?

Both in youth ministry and teaching, if I ask a young person to be in charge, it is always their understanding to dominate!

In last Sundays Gospel and this Sunday’s Gospel, Mark call us to see the “little ones”. The little ones have no power—nothing to increase our respect or glory. The great gift of the little one is to move us to the stance of selflessness. The little one increases our freedom because we act with no reward attached. We act out of love.

Benedict calls us to serve the little ones by mutual obedience. It is freely serving all without looking for reward or boosting our ego.

There are plenty of little ones in all our lives. I am surrounded by many opportunities in a high school both with adults and students.

When the less popular kids want to hang out with me, I have to remind myself over and over, it is the little one that counts!

This is not an easy Gospel to be inclusive of others but it is good news because when we dig deeper in ourselves, we find buried treasure.