Dominican Sister of Peace Suzanne Brauer helps kids prepare for this weekend’s Gospel

Note: Dominican Sister of Peace Suzanne Brauer originally wrote this reflection (on the Gospel for Sept. 19, 2021) for publication in the Sept. 18 issue of Kids’ Clarion. Because of school shutdowns forced by Hurricane Ida, Kids’ Clarion will resume monthly publication Oct. 16; however, we wanted to publish Sister Suzanne’s reflection in this special Sept. 18 issue of the Clarion Herald to help prepare young Catholics for this weekend’s Gospel, whether they are able to attend Mass remotely or in person. The Gospel for Sept. 19, 2021 – the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – follows:

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” – Mark 9:30-37

By Sister Suzanne Brauer, O.P.
Guest columinist

When we read the Gospels, we always get to know a little more about Jesus and his friends and followers.

In this Gospel passage, it seems like Jesus and his disciples are going on a secret journey.

I wonder why they would want to keep it a secret. Maybe it is because he had something very special to teach just them and not all the crowds of people who seem to be always with him.

The special message that he wanted to tell them is that one day he was going to get into big trouble. He was going to be arrested and even killed. He also told them that after three days he would rise from the dead.

We know the Easter story but they didn’t. Not only did they not understand but they were even afraid to ask him what he meant. In time they would understand, and they would continue the mission he had started because they would believe in him.

As part of the journey, the disciples stopped at Capernaum, presumably at Peter’s house. They were having an argument along the way. Jesus wanted to know why they were arguing. They did not want to tell him because they were probably embarrassed about arguing about who was the greatest among them.

We sometimes talk with our friends about who is the best. If we want to be his followers, Jesus wants us to talk about how we could help each other rather than be in competition with each other.

The next part of the reading is really cool. Jesus gathers his friends around him and has a heart-to-heart talk with them. He tells them that if they welcome someone in his name they welcome him.

Jesus wants us to welcome everyone in his name. We can accept everyone in his name because he has first loved us.

Can you picture yourself being that child that Jesus put his arms around?

Today, he loves us every bit as much as he loved that child. He says that if we care about each other in Jesus’ name we are receiving and caring about him.

Close your eyes and think about Jesus putting his arms around you. Spend a few quiet moments talking to him about anything that is in your heart. Thank him for loving you so much. Ask him what he wants you to do to serve him and others as one of his followers.

Born and raised in New Orleans and an alumna of Catholic schools, Dominican Sister of Peace Suzanne Brauer celebrated her final vows as a Dominican Sister in 1972. She serves in ministry at the Dominican Peace Center in New Orleans, where she gets to “meet Jesus in the people of our neighborhood and respond to some of their needs.”