Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 24: Year B
“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up 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?” (Mark 10: 35 and 36)
Can we listen and yet, not hear? Jesus has just finished telling the twelve before this reading about how he is going up to Jerusalem to be handed over and to be tortured and killed. While Peter is trying to tell him it shouldn’t be, James and John are trying to secure good seats in the kingdom. Do they not know that the Way of Jesus is paved with some suffering? Do we also not know this?
But Jesus wants to be clear about their requests. He asks them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” For me, the emphasis is on the word “You.” Is it the plural You as in “Ya’ll.?” Or is it a self-serving, first person you, as in only James and John?. Our Lord Jesus again refers to the Cup of Life and asks if they, (and we) are able to drink from it after our Baptism in Him? Like James and John, we too answer, “Yes.” So, are we also ready to suffer whatever it takes? Ponder this.
Jesus says to them and to us; “You know that among the Gentiles, [and those of our secular world today], those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
If you had the opportunity to sit down next to Jesus, what would you ask him to do for you? Would you ask him to make you President of the United States?; Governor of a State? Or some other position of power?
I think the deeper meaning here is not to hope for, or wish for greatness at all. Are we able to just be comfortable in the servant role? I have heard it said before “I’d rather serve in heaven than reign in hell.” Let us begin today following our Lord Jesus as the servant of many.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 