JESUS SAID TO THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE: WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?

JESUS SAID TO THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE: WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?

(A biblical reflection on the 29^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME –17 October 2021)

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalms: Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22; Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16

The Scripture Text

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what You are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at My right hand or at My left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45 RSV)

If you had one wish, what would you ask for? Good health and long life? Wealth? Power? The conversion of loved ones? Honor and praise from others?

How about meaningful work with a lot of suffering and few external rewards?

When James and John asked for seats of honor and authority in Jesus’ Kingdom, the other apostles/disciples became indignant, apparently jealous of being passed over. But Jesus gently asked these two men whether they were prepared to follow Him down the only road to His Kingdom, which is the way of the cross.

Baptized into His death, all Christians will reign with Him. But how do we live out the reality of that union? Jesus tells us we won’t find good models in secular society, where leaders “lord it over” those they are called to lead. For this, we have to look to Jesus, who came as “the slave of all,” and to the men and women who imitated Him. Saints Francis of Assisi, Elizabeth of Hungary, Frances of Rome, Damien of Molokai are only a very few of such imitators of Christ.

One such woman of the 20^th century was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. For more than fifty years, Mother Teresa dedicated herself to serving the “poorest of the poor” throughout the world. Along with sisters who joined her religious congregation, she did not just help the poor; she lived among them, embracing a life of poverty in imitation of Jesus, who also became poor so that we could become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). And as she did, she discovered the same truth about material goods that Jesus sought to teach James and John about prestige and worldly respect. “The more you have, the more you are occupied, and the less you give. But the less you have, the freer you are. Poverty for us is a freedom.”

Because she wanted to be filled only with Christ, Mother Teresa was able to give generously, both of herself and of Jesus, love. Often, the work was exhausting and thankless. But it also generated laughter, hope, and glimpses of the glory of God…… a perfect joy! Therefore, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and ask Him to help us serve as fully as He – and all the saints – did.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, You upheld Jesus throughout His life. Grant me eyes of faith to see You and the heart of compassion to share You with others. Make me a living witness to the love that can transform the world. Amen.HisHis

Jakarta, 16 October 2021

A Christian Pilgrim

 

THE REQUEST OF AN AMBITIOUS MOTHER

Today’s Gospel Reading: Matthew 20:17-28 – 2nd WEEK OF LENT: Wednesday, 20 March 2019

For the third time, on their way to Jerusalem, Jesus predicts His coming suffering, death and resurrection. Matthew locates the incident at Jericho (see verse 30), an oasis town in the Jordan valley. From here the road begins to climb the last few miles up to Jerusalem.

The reaction of the disciples shows that they have not grasped Jesus’ brand of messiahship. The Mother of James and John (in Mark the two disciples make their own request) interrupts to ask that her sons get a short cut to glory, i.e. each to have a place of honor in Jesus’ Kingdom (v. 21). Jesus’ response is that there is no short cut to spiritual glory or spiritual life. We cannot bypass the cross. Joining in Jesus’ mission will include suffering rather than the trappings of power (verses 22-23).

The jealousy of the other disciples at the maneuver of Zebedee’s sons causes Jesus to spell out even further that greatness in His Kingdom is determined by selfless service, not power and rank (vs 25-28).

Service, love, unselfishness – these words are attractive to most people. But how often do they really become values that animate our everyday decisions? Like Zebedee’s sons we reach for security and prestige rather then the cup Jesus drink.

Jakarta, 20 March 2019

A Christian Pilgrim

 

A RANSOM FOR MANY: 29th Sunday in the Ordinary Time [Year B] – Mark 10:35-45

Jakarta, 21 October 2018

A Christian Pilgrim

 

TO SIT AT HIS RIGHT AND AT HIS LEFT WHEN HE COMES INTO HIS GLORY

TO SIT AT HIS RIGHT AND AT HIS LEFT WHEN HE COMES INTO HIS GLORY

(A biblical refection on THE 29^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [YEAR B] – 21 October 2018)

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45 

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalms: Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22; Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16 

The Scripture Text

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and said to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And they said to Him, “Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what You are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at My right hand or at My left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45 RSV)

In today’s Gospel, James and John ask Jesus if they could sit at His right and at His left when He comes into His glory. Like many of the Jews of that day, these two brothers were expecting a political/military Messiah through whom God would defeat their enemies, conquer the world, and establish a Kingdom of justice and peace (that’s what they meant when they talked about Jesus coming into His glory).

The seats on either side of the royal throne were places of honor the king reserved for the prime minister and the prince successor. Those who sat in these seats were in a very powerful position because, unlike everyone else who had to request a special audience with the king and perhaps wait days or weeks for the opportunity to talk to him, they merely had to lean over and whisper in the king’s ear. Therefore, we can conclude that James’ and John’s request to sit at Jesus’ right and left was nothing less than a bold attempt to gain power by trying to get Jesus to guarantee they would occupy the places of honor when He, the Messiah, established His Kingdom. There are two explanations why James and John thought they deserved special treatment.

Scripture scholars believe James and John were probably part of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples because whenever the Gospels list the twelve apostles,, they always name Peter first and James and John second and third. It seems like Jesus favored these three apostles and even allowed them to witness events the other apostles did not (e.g. the transfiguration and when Jesus brought a little girl back to life).

According to three of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), James and John were fishing with their father Zebedee and the hired hands when Jesus called them to be His disciples. Zebedee’s fishing business must have been providing him with a comfortable living if he was able to employ not only his own sons, but others as well. Therefore, since James and John were from a more financially prosperous family than most people, including the other apostles, they may have thought they were better and deserved special honors.

Tradition tells us all of the apostles were martyrs except John. However, today’s Gospel ends with Jesus predicting that John, too, will die for his faith. Was John a martyr or did he live to a ripe old age? No one knows for sure.

The apostles experienced petty jealousies and they competed for Jesus’ attention and approval. Jesus told them not to worry about who was the greatest but to focus on serving others.

(Adapted from Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 214-215.)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we hereby commit ourselves to You, to love one another sincerely, to serve one another humbly, as You have loved and served us. Amen. 

Jakarta, 19 October 2018 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

THERE IS NO SHORT CUT TO SPIRITUAL GLORY OR SPIRITUAL LIFE

Today’s Gospel Reading:  Matthew 20:17-28 – SECOND WEEK OF LENT: Wednesday, 28 February 2018 

For the third time, Jesus predicts His coming suffering and death. Mrs. Zebedee interrupts to ask the her two sons – James and John – get a short cut to glory. Jesus’ response is that there is no short cut to spiritual glory or spiritual life.

We cannot bypass the cross. Suffering can take many forms in our life. It can be a recognition of our personal limitations – we simply cannot do or be anything we would like. It can be the suffering that comes from dull routine. It can take the form of our inability to change or reach certain other people. It can be our frustration with ourselves and the realization that personal change is not as facile as self-help books suggest. The spiritual value of these sufferings derives from our making them an integral part of our spiritual life rather that denying or refusing them. When we do that, we become less judgmental of others and less perfectionistic in our expectations.

If we adopt the attitude of the Lord, we will see our suffering not as a penalty but as a service to our brothers and sisters.

Suffering is not detour or mistake but our unique way of serving the Lord.

Jakarta, 28 February 2018

A Christian Pilgrim