Mark 9:30-37 The Last Shall Be First

What does Jesus mean by “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”   I know some good people who sit at the back of the churches because of this reading, but they've often shortened the phrase to: the last shall be first and the first last, omitting the part about being a servant to all.

I was recently speaking with a friend who openly admitted that the was the jealous type.  So am I.  I think it is common to jealously guard our friends, families, our positions, what we've done, etc.   Our natures tend to be like that.  It is what we see from the Apostles in today's readings, they each believe that they have put in the time and effort and deserve to be considered the 'greatest' one of the group. How many times have we been like that?  Haven't we all done a good job at something and desired someone to say, "Hey, you did a great job." 

Jesus indicates that we should let it go and not let our personal jealousy that leads to pride get in the way of doing our work.  It is echoes in the first reading from the letter of St. James: 
Adulterers!
Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God?
Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world
makes himself an enemy of God.
Or do you suppose that the Scripture speaks without meaning when it says,
The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy?
But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:
God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.

James is talking not necessarily about the physical relationship between people who are not married, but more metaphorically about our "marriage covenant" as it is between us and God, as his people for whom he sent his only son for our salvation.  Should we turn away from him for the pleasures of the earth, for our innate jealousies and pride instead of accepting the grace that he gives us so that we can be united with him, then we become his enemies.  Therefore, Jesus reminds us today, that we need to be humbled, that we need to serve others to preserve those graces, continue that abundant love of God, and letting it flow.  Hard to do?  Maybe.  However, it is readily seen in caregivers, and families who are at hospitals with loved ones.  This is merely one example.  There are so many more.  We need merely open our eyes to it.