By Sister Karen Cavanagh, C.S.J.
The incident we hear proclaimed in today’s Gospel is around two questions posed through different lenses and leading to all sorts of reactions.
Jesus has foretold His impending Passion for a third time now, and those disciples who have remained with Him – who have worked with Him – still seem to be avoiding what’s right in front of their noses.
The evangelist, Mark puts the first question on the lips of two favored brothers, James and John. In his version of the Gospel, Matthew puts it on the lips of James’ and John’s mother. May we, may my sons, “sit right next to You on your throne in the kingdom?” Their request seems to completely bypass what Jesus has foretold as they envision a place of political and social prestige, a victory over the world and a wealthy, comfortable future.
Jesus hears the question and could rightly and frustratingly ask: “Have you missed the boat again? Are you still not listening? Did you block out what I said was happening?”
Rather, He looks at them and responds with this question, “Can you drink the cup I’m about to drink … can you be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
They still have an almost unbelievable lack of understanding of Jesus words and of His mission. They and Jesus are speaking on two different wavelengths.
Let’s cut these brothers some slack. Let’s acknowledge our hindsight vision of the Scriptures as we are encouraged to look at this Gospel as though we are there with them.
We hear Jesus foretell that He will drink from a cup of suffering, humiliation and death. He will be baptized and drown in floodwaters of affliction, pain, torture and seeming failure. He tells them what lies ahead in Jerusalem – arrest, indictment, sentencing and capital punishment, then resurrection.
In this Gospel, Jesus insists that they – and we – not only understand, but also embrace the truth. We see and hear this foretold in the first reading from Isaiah: He would be “crushed in infirmity.” The letter to the Hebrews (written long after this Gospel’s fulfillment) tells us of the “throne of grace and mercy” which will be ours.
Jesus says, “those of you who wish to be great must assume servanthood, those who wish to be in first place must be the slave of all others. The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give His very life as a ransom for many.” The outpouring of that grace and mercy will be our “timely help” to embrace the challenge.
Still Transfixed
It’s only been three weeks since we heard, witnessed, were touched by and marveled at the words and tenderly strong, actions of our “Father Francis.” He spoke and modeled His “Yes” to Jesus’ question, “Can you, will you, drink the cup?” We are still somewhat transfixed by Pope Francis’ visit, message and modeling. Why not relish and spend some time reflecting on these days of our so recent experience with Jesus’ Vicar today?
Pope Francis has not made secret that his own conversion knew a crucible of suffering, alienation and misery. He’s been most vocal about the transformation that has been his and that he continues to live in his papacy. Through the floodwaters of God’s unrelenting mercy and the baptism of God’s grace, he shows us how to see the face of Jesus in others, especially those who are marginalized, vulnerable, excluded, alienated or abandoned by most.
Whether we saw him personally up close, at a distance or on the TV it didn’t matter. It was his words and actions that touched our hearts and inflamed our spirits. His presence made all of us look honestly at our own lives and perhaps take inventory of what we might not hear, understand or even block out.
Maria Shriver wrote in her reflections of Francis’ visit, “I don’t want to go back to the way I was before Pope Francis visited America … I hope we make this visit matter … I hope it transforms us … I know I’m going forward differently because of him.”
These are the sentiments of most of us and perhaps during our own inventory, we realize that we are this age’s disciples. The questions are put to us every day. We pay no homage or service to Jesus’ challenge by belittling what we think we can do.
Our Savior, and brother Jesus knows well our “buts” and “bargaining,” knows our fears and foibles, our distractions and differences and knows even more our capabilities, care and compassion. As though with the greatest mercy and tenderness, I can almost hear Him invite us again, “Follow Me.”
Are we able to respond, even if our “Yes” might be weak? Can we pray the Psalm response for today: “Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as we place our hope in You”?
We’re still talking about our experiences of these last weeks. We remember Pope Francis’ closing words at every gathering. “Please, pray for me … send me good wishes.”
As we pray for him, let us also pray for our Church and our world and for each other. May Pope Francis’ story and the disciples’ story encourage our stories. as His daughters and sons.
Readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 53: 10-11
Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Hebrews 4: 14-16
Mark 10: 35-45 or Mark 10: 42-45
Sister Karen Cavanagh, C.S.J., a trained spiritual director and retreat facilitator, is a pastoral associate/family minister at St. Nicholas of Tolentine parish, Jamaica.