The renunciation of pride - and the ‘nose’ without citizenship
(Mk 10:13-16)
«Because in the synodal process, our listening must take into account the sensus fidei, but it must not neglect all those “intuitions” found where we would least expect them, “freewheeling”, but no less important for that reason. The Holy Spirit in his freedom knows no boundaries or tests of admission. If the parish is to be a home to everyone in the neighbourhood, and not a kind of exclusive club, please, let’s keep the doors and windows open […] Don’t be disheartened; be prepared for surprises» (Pope Francis).
Jesus identifies with the weak (v.16). And in certain terms He even intends to propose them to veteran followers!
This is precisely to indicate the type of believer he dreams they will become (v.15): persons who recognize the desires of others as legitimate, and doesn’t make too many fuss if see themself diminished in social consideration.
Not infrequently church leaders felt expert and self-sufficient from the very beginning...
Conversely, they must be ready in Christ Jesus to be ‘born’ again and again, otherwise their eye will remain in a caricatured and blocked vision of the Kingdom.
The "little one", on the other hand, has not mental reserves - as well as fewer ballast: he throws himself in a genuine and enthusiastic way toward the exploits of the Faith’s adventure.
The Lord doesn’t refuse to «touch» directly (v.13) those who are considered impure, women, little ones or their mothers: a disgrace according to the ritual norms of the time.
Women and children - together with pagans - were considered unreliable and impure by nature, indeed contaminants.
The Master has no fear of transgressing the religious law, or of being assessed as infected himself!
Christ embraces, blesses, lays his hand on the small servants - as if to recognise and truly consecrate them: He mirrors himself in them as if were one of them.
It means that the disciples' concern must not be the 're-education' common to all the various more or less mystery 'creeds' of the time.
Indeed, the most eloquent sign of the Kingdom of God on earth is precisely the welcoming spirit of the marginalized: those who do not even know what it means to claim rights only for themselves.
Quality of Life in the Spirit is measured by the ability to recover the opposite sides in each believer who has the desire to walk towards his own completeness.
Thus, in the Community this dynamic of recovery increases and overtakes thanks to the ‘integration’ that becomes a fruitful conviviality of differences.
Welcoming, hosting the weak, distant, small and excluded is personal and common enrichment - an eloquent sign of the same life and divine character in us and in the Church.
Not a winning institution, but servant of humanity in need of everything.
And it’s precisely the ‘little’ ones in Christ who become teachers of adults.
This the angelic modesty and evangelical ‘littleness’ that makes us emancipated and immediately up to par; but above all Blessed, happy to be «minors» even ill-considered.
[Saturday 7th wk. in O.T. March 1st, 2025]
