THAT’S GRRRRRREAT!, Mark 9:30-37; James 3:13-4:3, Rev. Beverly Matthews I remember a TV commercial that used to be on when I was a child. It involved a big tiger who used to say, with wonderful enthusiasm: “That’s Grrrrrrrreat!” You know the one I mean, don’t you? Some of you remember it too. It was fun to watch, because we could all say those words along with the huge tiger! “That’s Grrrrrrrreat!” Even saying it, made us feel a little bit greater! Just try it with me now, with the big arm movement and all! Together, on the count of three, let’s say it! Ready? 1 - 2 - 3 - “That’s Grrrrrrrreat!”  Wasn’t that fun? Didn’t that make us all feel great? In our scheduled Gospel reading for today, the disciples of Jesus were having a conversation about greatness, but they were talking about more than just feeling great. They were talking about being great, as in being “the best.”  As was the custom of the time, Jesus (as teacher) would have walked along in front, and his disciples would have followed along, most likely in single file along a narrow footpath. On the way to a town called Capernaum, Jesus’ followers argued about who was the greatest, “the best,” among them. That is, they argued about who was the best spiritual person in their group. Some of their angry or boastful comments would no doubt have reached Jesus’ ears as he led the way, but he said nothing to them until they reached the town and entered a house.  Then, knowing already what the answer would be, Jesus asked his followers what they were arguing about. Understandably embarrassed by this question from One who actually was great, his followers didn’t wish to say. They were silent. So Jesus sat down. He took the traditional position of a teacher, about to give instruction to his disciples, and said to them: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) What’s that? Whoever wants to be first, or the greatest, must be last of all and servant of all? Well, there Jesus goes again, turning the cultural values of the time completely upside down! How could those that the world would see as “last of all” - or those who were merely lowly servants - be considered “first,” or “the best,” or “the greatest”? I mean, in our own culture today, how could those whom the world sees as the “last” or “lowest”- maybe the poorest among us, or those most troubled with substance abuse, or those who are the most physically or mentally challenged - how could these actually be “first” in God’s kingdom!? How, indeed, could this be? As Jesus’ followers tried to let the meaning of this truth sink in, Jesus then offered further clarification, by doing something even more surprising than proclaiming this reversal of traditional values. He picked up a little child, took it (literally) in the crook of his arm and held it. ... (I love the image of Jesus lovingly holding a child like that! It helps me remember, yes he’s holding me too.) .... And then, while holding the little child in His arms, Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:37) Just imagine!  A child. Someone without social privilege or status or voice in the culture of the time. Someone viewed by many as a “free” slave - a child. Welcoming a little child in His name, says Jesus, is the same as welcoming Christ Himself, and God through Christ! Just imagine! This is what Jesus demands of all who would follow him, the Son of Man. No matter how the world might betray Him (or us) still, we are to follow. Still, we are to humble ourselves enough to see the face, the presence, the teaching of Christ in the “lowest,” the “last” the “servants’ among us, and yes ... in a little child. And that’s what “greatness” is really all about! You know, I am often in awe of the wisdom of little children. Just think about it. Little children are not tormented by worries about what others are going to think, or about clothes, or money, or the “important” things they have to do. Unless they are taught to be otherwise, little children are themselves, with no masks or hypocrisy, open with their questions, opinions, and ideas. And they are wise. Wise with the wisdom of God. There was once a young child who lived in a neighborhood in which there also lived a woman who was somewhat of a recluse. The woman lived alone in an old house that was poorly kept. The grass was left to grow long, the fence in poor repair, needing paint and some new boards where the old ones had broken or fallen away. The house itself badly needed paint, and what paint was left was worn by years of sun and rain into a faded yellow. .... The whole house and yard seemed to have an air of sadness about it. Loneliness. Almost eeriness..... Yet, the house never seemed as sad or eerie as the woman herself. The owner. She seemed as though she might once have been tall and pleasant looking, yet now she was hunched over, with tangled long grey hair and clothes that seemed always to have been slept in! Her face was thin, her cheeks hollow, and her skin grey. Only her eyes held a hint of something more ... She rarely spoke - only when absolutely necessary, and with as few words as possible.  Almost everyone in the neighborhood kept their distance. Perhaps they were afraid. Many thought: “She must have some kind of disease. I wonder if she is dangerous. We had better leave her alone.” BUT this one little boy wondered: “What if she is just sad? I feel sad sometimes. Maybe she just needs a friend.....” This little boy decided to try. He helped bake some cookies, and dropped them off at her doorstep with a note: “You seem sad. Lots of folks don’t understand. I think I do. I feel sad too sometimes. Its okay. ... Maybe we could be friends. Play in the park.....Anyway, I hope you enjoy the cookies. ”  The woman wondered who the gift was from, of course, so she left a note of her own: “Thank you. Nicest thing someone has done for me in a long time. I’ll be at the park tomorrow afternoon.” With that, a friendship blossomed! All because one little boy had the courage to question the wisdom of the world, and to follow the wisdom of God! ...  This little boy was “great” - in God’s way - and we can be too. We can do great things for others, in Christ’s name. We can look beyond outward appearances, cultural differences, or social status, and we can see the Christ within; and we can love; like that little boy; like Christ; like countless seemingly “lowly” people; like countless “little children” in our lives and in our world; we can love. We can serve. In Christ’s name. .....And that’s grrrrrrrrreat! Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." James 3:13 - 4:3 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.