Who is the greatest? (Mk 9: 33-37)

Jesus was resolutely walking along the way to Jerusalem. It was a purposeful walk. He was going to live out the climax of his earthly mission with his passion, death and resurrection. He just finished a formation session with his apostles during which he had given them long instructions, even predicted the type of death that awaited him in the Capital. He walked ahead, confident that they have understood his mission and would follow it worthily. The situation was full of forebodings about the future of the Messiah and of his Kingdom.

As he walked along there was a heated discussion among the apostles some ten feet behind. It started in subdued tones, then in the heat of the debate the pitch was raised and Jesus could pick up the main content. He was disappointed, and even amused, because he understood the human heart. They reached the house and the conversation behind abruptly stopped.

“What were you talking about on the way?”
Silence…
“I asked a question.”
Silence continued. It was a silence of shame. They felt comfortable and unashamed to talk about it among themselves. Now they surmised that Jesus had overheard, and they were ashamed. Do we not all often stop a conversation when someone we respect comes along? We wouldn’t discuss such things in front of him or her?
“Well, have you been arguing about who is the greatest among you?”
Still that embarrassed and pregnant silence continued. They had not been doing only that. They were also picking a quarrel with James and John in particular, because the latter had approached the Lord through their mother for special favours in the Kingdom.
Jesus was now teasing them: “Any conclusions? Results of the debate? Are the arguments inconclusive?”
Peter spoke up as usual: “Lord, please spare us this ignominy. We were just casually talking about…”
Jesus brushed aside the excuse. “There is only one way to decide on the issue, a secret ballot. Let us do a bit of voting to see who wins.”
The apostles did not know how to react. They were unsure whether Jesus was serious or was out to pull their legs.
Jesus pulled out a box, and some paper pieces. He distributed the paper among them and told them to vote for the one they considered greatest among them, the one who could take up leadership. He collected the pieces in the box.
Once everyone had voted, he took the papers and read each of them quietly to himself first. When he finished he burst into laughter. To the intrigued apostles he showed the papers and announced the results:
“All of you are the greatest. All of you have received equal number of votes, one each,” he said still laughing heartily.
There was a deadly silence among the apostles. Jesus made them all sit down and began speaking to them.
“I have been talking to you for a long time. I told you that the men of this world lord it over others but it should not be so among you. And yet there is a frenetic competition for posts among you. One of you asked what you would get for leaving everything and following me. Two others were asking for seats on the right and the left. And now, this argument. I wonder whether such bickering will ever stop in my Church?
Do you want to be the first really? Then don’t look for posts on my right and my left. It is not for me to grant them, but my Father. There will be always competition there and you will lose.
If you want to be a sure winner, sit at my feet, and at the feet of the poor of Yahweh. There is no competition there. There you can really be first and the greatest.”