In today’s Gospel, the apostles are doing what? (Answer: arguing about who is the greatest) Let’s talk about being “the greatest”. Does anyone know which sports figure is famously nicknamed “The Greatest”? (Answer: Muhammad Ali or Cassius Clay) Muhammad Ali, is considered by most to be the most famous professional boxer to ever step in the boxing ring. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky as Cassius Clay and won 56 of his 61 boxing matches, including winning the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22. Ali was a fierce competitor, who while preparing for his matches would “talk trash” to his opponents. Ali was known for his different style of boxing and his “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” approach in the ring.
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
In today’s Gospel, the apostles are doing what? (Answer: arguing about who is the greatest) Let’s talk about being “the greatest”. Does anyone know which sports figure is famously nicknamed “The Greatest”? (Answer: Muhammad Ali or Cassius Clay) Muhammad Ali, is considered by most to be the most famous professional boxer to ever step in the boxing ring. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky as Cassius Clay and won 56 of his 61 boxing matches, including winning the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22. Ali was a fierce competitor, who while preparing for his matches would “talk trash” to his opponents. Ali was known for his different style of boxing and his “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” approach in the ring. Still to this day Muhammad Ali is a cultural icon, but although he is known as “The Greatest”, many would probably argue, just like the apostles, he was not “the greatest”. Jesus quickly does what to the apostles when they told him what they were arguing about? (Tells them whoever want to be first must be last and the servant of all.) Jesus’ words probably hit the apostles like a boxer’s punch to the stomach. Jesus continued by taking a child and said “whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.” Jesus is saying being “the greatest” is overrated and what the world sees as being “the greatest” (first), Jesus sees the opposite. We all want people to praise us and “be famous”, but Jesus is saying forget about this. Children at this time had no rights and were on the bottom rung of the ladder in society. Jesus, by taking the child in his arms and saying whoever receives this child in my name welcomes me, at this time in history was saying, if you welcome the “least” or the “wimpiest” not the Muhammad Ali’s of the world, you welcome me and the one who sent me. Jesus isn’t talking trash here. He is telling us to stop comparing and arguing over who is “the greatest” and to be here for one another, help each other out, serve each other. Jesus is the perfect model of what he is describing. He came not to be served, but to serve. He was humble and gave all of himself to us by dying on the cross. He was not worried about being seen as “the greatest”, he didn’t want the apostles to focus on being “the greatest”, and he doesn’t want us, to focus on being “the greatest”. He wants us to focus on serving God and not caring whether or not we get noticed for doing it. Jesus’ words, like Muhammad Ali, float like a butterfly, but sting like a bee. His words pack a major punch. We can’t forget what He says about being “the greatest”. I issue this challenge especially to the 8th grade students who will be moving on to high school next year and to all of you here today. Remember, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Now that’s a total knock-out.
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In your life, is He really? "Keep God first, family second, school third, friends, sports, work and so on. We know the order and there is a really, really good reason for this order of how to keep priorities in our life, but we often lose track of them or come up with our own interpretations, soon, as teens, God and our family are edged out of the priority list and we're not happy campers. Here are a few ways to keep your priorities in check:
When we have our priorities in order, a lot of times, we are at our best. We're spending time with God in prayer, at Mass, being kind to someone, or thinking about God's plan for us. We are helping out our parents at home, being good role models for our siblings, or just fun to be around. These are all ways that may tell you that you're on the right track. In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:6 You’re Invited: Families and their youth are invited to St. Margaret-St. John’s Fish Fry on Friday, March 1st at 6:00 to eat some great fish, chat, and at 7:00 our Youth Ministry Core Leadership Team will give a few special reflections, relevant to young people, on the Stations of the Cross in the church. It will end at 7:30, a great opportunity to spend a little time with God during Lent. Teens, Get “The Word” on and : Follow, +1 and Like our ministry by going to @smsjsacym or www.facebook.com/smsjsacym! Each week a new resource called “God’s Word, Your World” will be added for you. These are reflections and a couple questions for each weekend’s readings at Mass/holy days, especially for you and relevant to things in your life. Take a risk and check it out. Spread the Word: Our ministry is on YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Click on the social media icons at the top of our ministry website to go right to them or search smsjsacym. It Takes 2: No EDGE session this Sunday, it’s time for FIRE! Our next EDGE session on Feb. 24th will make the connection between what we believe about Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. It really does take two! Come meet these two and bring your own two legs for a competition. Be Inspired: A special invitation has been extended to our youth and their families to come to the Tatiana, also known as Tajci, concert on Wednesday, February 27th at St. Cecilia’s. Tajci was a teen idol in her hometown of Croatia and sold platinum albums before giving it all up and coming to the U.S. at age 21. Hear her and her amazing story at this exciting Lenten concert. All High School Students are invited to an Archdiocesan Youth Rally called “All Things New” WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 1:00–9:00 PM WHAT: An exciting, one-day rally for Catholic teens that includes keynotes by an amazing African-American national speaker/story-teller, ValLimar Jansen and comedian, Chris Padgett, break-outs, mass with Archbishop Schnurr and Bishop Binzer, reconciliation, exposition, prayer and worship. WHO: Catholic parish and school youth from the graduating classes of 2013-2016. WHERE: Bishop Fenwick High School, 4855 State Route 122 Franklin, Ohio. COST: $25 (includes a boxed dinner) (Scholarships are available if needed) Go to http://smsjsacym.weebly.com/smsjsacym-high-school-ministry.html for more information! Reserve your spot today! This event will inspire you! Deadline is Sunday, March 3rd. |
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