The Son of Man has come to give his life as a ransom for all: Commentary by Fr. Jorge Miró

Fr. Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on the Gospel of this Sunday, October 20, 2024, entitled “The Son of Man has come to give his life as a ransom for all”

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Last Sunday, the Word of God told us that riches make it difficult to follow Christ. Today, the Word of God tells us that the same thing happens with the desire for power. Whoever desires power is in danger of deification, idolatry, creating servitude and servility, and narcissism that destroys everything.

The Word of God today proposes humility, an attitude of service, and giving one’s life, as essential attitudes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Humility is the unmistakable sign of someone who has encountered Jesus Christ and proclaims him Lord of his life.

Humility is the condition that makes faith possible: only the humble Discover God, because they feel the need of Him and seek Him, and, as they seek Him with sincerity, they find Him. The Lord resists the proud and reveals Himself to the humble.

Furthermore, he who lives from humility is full of God and has no shortage of all human vanities and grandeurs, which, seen from the perspective of faith, are often rather obstacles to authentically following Jesus Christ.

The Word invites us not to follow the path of friendship with the world, which is enmity with God. Not to follow the path of ambition or envy, but the path of humility. To discover that one ascends to heaven by descending.

This is what Jesus did, who, being rich, became poor for you in order to enrich you with his poverty (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). Whoever wants to be great among you, let him be your servant; and whoever wants to be first, let him be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

And if you want to meet Jesus, you must go to the last place. Because there is Jesus. Hidden in the manger of Bethlehem… hidden in the humiliation of the Cross. And the encounter with Jesus will fill your life.

Thus, whoever wants to be first, let him be the last of all and the servant of all.

The Word of God invites you to flee from all social hypocrisy, from wanting to occupy the first places in society or in the Church, from wanting to be on good terms with everyone, from wanting to pretend, from wanting to be among the powerful, from wanting to have “social prestige.” All of this is the fruit of pride and arrogance, and God wants you to be small, humble, helpful, devoted… Because God wants you to be happy. It is about seeing things from God’s perspective and not from men’s.

The humble person is the good soil in which the seed of the Word of God can take root and bear much fruit. How is your heart? What are your desires, your ambitions? Where is the center of your concerns? Where do you put your interest, your time…?

How humble are you? Ask the Holy Spirit for a meek and humble heart, like that of Jesus.

Come Holy Spirit! (cf. Lk 11:13).