Twenty-Ninth Sunday Ordinary Time - B October 18, 2009

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

Living, as we do, in the city; and being a Catholic parish in this city in the midst of a necessary consolidation of resources, facilities and personnel; and doing all of this in the midst of an economy that is difficult and demanding and actually historical in the effects it is having and the choices that we have to make; all of this is not simple to do, all of this should make us think, all of this should make us realize some things about ourselves. What, for example, is important to us? What is valuable? What is necessary? What choices do we make? There are some things that we do not like, that we would rather not do, that we would rather not choose. On the other hand, perhaps we are discovering things about ourselves that we did not realize, that are things that we like about ourselves, that are abilities we forgot that we really have.

When it all comes down to it, when certain things, certain choices become necessary, we often do we need to do in order to go on, in order to survive. In fact, there may be times when we actually better ourselves by doing and acting in ways that surprise ourselves. After I read through and thought about a message from the Scripture readings we have heard today, these were the reflections which came to mind.

Think about this story telling us of two brothers, James and John. In a way, they were riding on a wave of success. They were part of the inner-circle of the followers of Jesus. They were attracting a following, a crowd. Things, unusual things, miraculous things, were happening to them and around them. There were external signs of success and popularity that they were experiencing. They were a part of all of it. Better yet, they were at the center of it all. Things could only get better. So they made a point of making sure that Jesus knew that they wanted as much as they could get.

The others who were around Jesus were not much better. They were critical of James and John. They were upset, not because the topic was brought up, but because it appeared that James and John were a little ahead of the game. They were ahead in making their claim. They were ahead in making sure that they got a good piece of the pie. Jesus then hits them with a reality check. He make it known what it is all about, what his ministry is really about. In many ways, at least in my way of thinking, the current circumstances in which we find ourselves are a reality check. Whether it is a matter of the economy or parish consolidation and down-sizing and clustering, these things, in many ways, are a reality check. What are we all about, as followers of Christ, in these circumstances, in this situation?

What is it, then, that we are all about? Is it position, influence, material success, control? Is it a sense of security which, in many ways, is really a complacency, a taking of things for granted, even a lack of thankfulness or a sense of entitlement - we deserve these things, much like James and John seem to be saying? Is it, like these two or doing, and as the other seem to be thinking as well, a matter of getting as much as we can as soon as we can?

Is this what we are all about? This is not in the response of Jesus. This is not what he tells them, and he tells us. Christ makes it quite clear, to them and to us, who value a relationship with God as being important enough that we are here in the presence of Christ and of one another, reflecting our faith renewing and strengthening our faith - Christ makes it clear that it is “service” that we are all about. We are about going outside of ourselves and our own interests; we are about others being more important than ourselves. We are about “service” in the sense of directing our interests and concerns outside of ourselves toward God an toward others. We are about recognizing and acknowledging God as the source of our live and all that we have and assisting others to do the same and so live this gift of life in a better way.

What we are about is a matter of recognizing the fact , as was suggested in brief words from the prophet, Isaiah, that it can be in what appears to be in the affliction, pain, suffering, difficulties that “service” might involve that the fullness of days, the best that we are, the purpose and will of the God who made us, is found. What we are about is recognizing, as the author of Hebrew can be understood as pointing out, that the Son of God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came into our world, lived our lives, suffered from the weaknesses that are part being human, including rejection, betrayal, misunderstanding, and even condemnation to a criminal’s death on the cross, in service to us, for our benefit.

This is what we are all about. This is how our best qualities can be revealed. And this is the question that is before us now, in the circumstances we face today at home, in our community, in our society: How best do we serve one another in the challenges, the difficulties we face? How best do serve on another, and so give honor and glory to God, by being reflections, by being embodiments here and now, of the life and the grace we share of our good and loving God.?