Today's readings let us see more clearly Jesus' growing awareness of the painful aspects of mission: arrest, conviction, passion, death and being raised. I think of the reaction of many humans to such awareness in their own life's journey. Consider how you or others may have reacted if you knew you or they were in serious difficulties. Many turn to completely opposite distractions to ease the pain. Might this not have been the case with Zebedee's wife seeking a royal position for her sons? The thoughts of sitting next to a kingly person are so far removed from the painful future Jesus shared with the apostles which information the two sons must have shared with Mom. As well, we might look at the other ten who got into an apparent heated debate among themselves about who would be honored.
Jesus clears the combative air with clarity and definitiveness in his remarks to the apostles. 'You shall not act like the rulers of the Gentiles.' Just the opposite. You will be a servant to others if you wish to follow me. Your kingdom will be giving your lives for others.
Where is the Catholic Community today? How many Roman Catholics, supposedly followers of Jesus Christ, even think of their relationship to Jesus as one that involves a calling to sacrifice their lives "as a ransom for many?" Who among us who proclaim Jesus as our God keep in our hearts that this religion, this vocation is not the life of kingship and the regal life?
"...whoever wishes to be great ... shall be ... servant; ... whoever wishes to be first ... shall be ... slave." Can you wear these shoes? There is no doubt that the fit is usually tight for most of us!
