Each year the Diocese of Meath, of which I am a priest, makes its annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. From the 12th to the 17th September, the Bishop with pilgrims and clergy in tow head to the Marian Shrine in France for five days of prayer and often refreshment. There are always thousands there at that time, as the pilgrimage season still has roughly another month and a half to go. Each year there is a peculiar event that never fails to amuse; something I call the battle of Lourdes. The lines are clear. There are the good guys: the pilgrims of Meath, with their storm-troopers; the blue clad brancardiers who look after the sick. There are the bad guys; everyone else, and in particular the Italian pilgrims that happen to be there at the time. With military precision, the boys in blue push there there way through the vast praying mob to insure Ecclesia Midensis gets to to the top of every queue, be it processions, the baths, or what ever else. Its very funny to hear our own lot complain about the 'Italians', how even the little old ladies seem to want to be first in line. The truth is, they want to have the audacity to do the same themselves! Even if when we are on pilgrimage to a site dedicated to the Mother of He who came to serve and not to be served, the rat race and the desire to be first wins out. This, it seems, cannot be left at St Michael's or St Joseph's gate.
There is a innate desire in us to the first. Its our primal impulse. Even the best Christian has to struggle with putting God and others first. It is harrowing to see sights from Pakistan at the moment, of people trampling each other to get food from distributors. In such circumstances it is hard to blame them. But even in less life threatening moments there is always the temptation to go in for the kill. In the hunt for a job maybe, or preferment, its easy to push yourself at the expense of others. Survival of the fittest, right?
Both this Sunday and last Sunday, the Lord shows us the other way. First is last, last first. Can you imagine the embarrassment of the man in the Gospel who had to give up his place in front of everyone? Christ in His life and in His Passion reveals that self emptying is the only sure way to self fulfilment. To put yourself in the second place for the sake of the other is true discipleship
What would be the consequences of always putting others first? By the standards of the world you would be on to a looser straight away; a prey for unscrupulous people, an object of fun, maybe even scorn. Think, however, if everyone did the same? Everyone putting everyone else first? It would be the biggest social revolution imaginable. And the funny thing is, as it says in second reading 'you have not approached what cannot be touched!' It can be done, not without struggle, but it can be done. Christ has given us the example we should follow. Listen to Him. For what we have been called to is Mt Zion, the New Jerusalem, where everyone is a first born son.
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