October 18, 2015

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

Isaiah 53: 10-11; Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45

The opening lines of Mac Davis’ popular song says so much. “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way. I can’t wait to look in the mirror cause I get better looking’ each day.” My dad used this saying to keep us kids in line, ‘Some people use this expressions to explain who they think they are: ‘I use to be proud, but now I don’t have any faults.’ Today’s readings ask us about ourselves…Am I living my life because of me and for the greater glory and honor of me…or am I living my life as a person who realizes that God loves me and needs me to be love so that people may see Jesus in me? Can the people who come in my life see love in me and realize that this comes from God who wants all to know that they are loved and they are special?

As followers of Jesus, who humbled Himself to take on our human nature and our human death, we must share in and drink from that same cup of humility. It seems that this was what the apostles were afraid of or wanting to make their future comfortable in the special roles they were hoping to have when Jesus began His rule. Mark today reveals that Jesus is going to Jerusalem, the City of David, the center of their faith. Here is where Rome had their headquarters in Israel. Here is the great Temple of Solomon, the religious leaders, politicians, the rich and famous. So these ‘leaders’ have sent ‘spies’ to check up on Jesus. He is heading toward the headquarters of all those opposed to His teaching. This will be their opportunity to put an end to this heretic…this one who was filled with a messiah complex. They would expose His hypocrisy and His phoniness. With this in mind, I’m sure the apostles were both amazed and afraid. Did they believe Jesus when He said that the ‘Messiah would suffer, die and rise on the third day?’ Or were they consumed with the unfounded hope that Jesus would become the Messiah King who would drive out Rome and those who supported this occupying power?

When carrying these thoughts over to ourselves as we continue our journey to the Lord, I reflect on ‘How important do I feel that I am?’ Do I let power and influence and those with power and influence control my life? Am I ‘in it’ for what I can get out of it? Am I living to impress others? Am I really listening to what Jesus is teaching His apostles? Did I really listen to what Pope Francis lived and shared in his recent visit to the United States? Did I see that the Pope consistently made himself available to all people from all walks of life? It was totally obvious that the Pope was just as comfortable in the United Nations and in front of the powerhouse of the Congress as he was visiting the prisoners and the school kids in Harlem.

Jesus is teaching His disciples what was to happen to Him. Today James and John still misunderstand Jesus’ mission and message and make an ‘outlandish request.’ Are they concerned with being a follower or being in command? Are they concerned with honors and privileges and all the respect and glory that comes with this? They haven’t learned from Peter’s recent encounter. They just heard Jesus give His most explicit prediction of His suffering and death. They skip over so readily the thought of suffering and ask to be ‘secretary of state’ and ‘vice-president’ when Jesus’ comes into His glory. Jesus tells them directly that they will not receive their request but they will follow His way of suffering. Maybe these two were caught up in the Transfiguration event where they saw Jesus’ glory. They were not being child-like but definitely childish. In Matthew’s account of this same even, the mother of James and John ask the question. In ancient times, seats to the left and right of the monarch were seats of honor with great dignity. AND the others were very upset…did they feel that they were the forgotten ones…were they thinking of what was in it for them?

Dr. BonnieBowman Thurston shares her thoughts on the gospel passage: “Mark 10:32-45 serves as a summary of the themes of passion and discipleship that dominate this section of the gospel. Disciples are those who, although perhaps uncomprehendingly, follow Jesus, and who follow with amazement and fear. They are to do as their master has done. Not only are they, like Him, to be servant (or slaves) ‘of all’ (v.44), but they are implicated in His suffering and death. Mark undoubtedly shaped this material to serve as instruction for the early church. In our day, it can be fruitfully preached not only to explain in very personal terms the atonement and its cost, but to address the question, ‘What must we do (or avoid doing) to see that our lives conform to Jesus’ (and the kingdom’s) view of greatness.?”

So the question is asked for my reflection: Am I living as a follower of Jesus? Am I concerned with myself as being the ‘gifted one’ or am I living as a servant of God? The traditional title of the pope is ‘Servant of the servants of God’…do people who observe me see me in this light?

I think a basic reflection that each person must spend time with is: Am I living as a Saint? Automatically, myself and most others would say, ‘I’m not a saint!’ True…but am I living as a Saint lives. Is it prideful to want to be a Saint? Again, most would respond, ‘Yes it is’…but is it? Every saint hoped to be a saint and knew that they were far from it but they hoped to be one. Why not me? If I feel that I can never become a saint, then am I denying the role of God’s grace daily in my life? Without God, I can do nothing…with God all things are possible.

Alice Camille in Exploring the Sunday Readings shares some compelling thoughts and questions on today’s readings:

Her reflective questions:

• “Name three qualities of your favorite saint that attract you the most.

• What virtues would you like to add to your canonization resume?

• List three things you’d need to change about yourself to move in the direction of holiness’Try to practice one of hem each day this week…and don’t lose this list!

• Have you ever received glory without suffering?

• What price are you willing to pay for the things you value most?”

Her thoughts:

“Every saint hoped to be one, and you and I should too. Of course, canonization isn’t the goal, but sanctification most definitely is what our Christian lives would lean toward with every decision we make. Working on our sainthood isn’t a matter of polishing the halo inner closet or striking a selfie pose that will look good on the future holy card. It’s about letting the image and likeness of God come out and be the light of the world.

Will we still sin and need to confessor failures? Early and often. Will we rely on God’s mercy to save us, God’s grace to propel us in a continual course correction? Without a doubt. None of the saints were immune to sin, and some of them were rather spectacular failure not he road of spiritual perfection. So if you’ve got flaws that seem to precludes seat in the canonized club, just think how those flaws will encourage some future sinner to aspire to the club themselves!”

So many saints have showed us the way…do we listen…do we read their lives…do we realize that God placed them in our lives to touch us with their love and their insistence on each day working, struggling, climbing over the rocks and boulders on the road ever aware of the end goal: God and heaven forever.

St. Therese the Little Flower always wanted to be a martyr. But how could she do this in living as a Cloistered Carmelite? On reading Paul’s letter to the Corinthians she realized that there were many ‘roles’ a person could use in becoming a saint…he said they were teachers and prophets and many more. She continued and then Paul said that each is blessed with gifts and each is loved by God. He went on to describe this and Therese hit on her way….I am called to LOVE. That’s it….with this in mind, I ask am I love…have I been love today…can people see me as love or as a hinderance to love…how can I love more deeply and completely?

Is any of this possible…YES….am I willing to continue each day…Good question…Is it Hard…Yes…Do I want to ‘take a vacation’ and not do it today…Yes….Is God with me to keep on trying and climbing over the rocks and boulders? Absolutely….Do I let God love me and lead me?

Sacred Space 2015 states it simply:

“Christian leadership is not like human authority, nor is it based upon power and lording it over others. Quite the contrary; it is genuine when expressed in service. Jesus came not to be served but to serve.

What about me? How am I of service to others?”