In the Gospel reading Jesus surprises his disciples when he says that to be first one must make himself the servant of all. This is completely opposite of what most people think. Almost everyone strives to be the first, to get ahead of others, to become richer, more successful, and more influential, more in everything than the others.

But Christ instead says that, to be first, one must be the servant of all. Indeed we need the Spirit of Jesus to accept this startling statement, this way of thinking and doing. Jesus himself taught and lived this path of humility and selflessness.

We pray that this could also be our path. Are we ready to walk and live this path, of being small, least and last? Jesus tells us this is the path to being first in God’s eyes.