(Jesus teaching: James Tissot)
"Whoever wishes to be first will be the slave of all"
Mark 10: 35-45
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101721.cfm
Here’s a little Catholic trivia that may come
in handy, you never know when. The familiar gesture of the genuflection,
traditional before the Blessed Sacrament in our Churches, has been recorded since
at least the fourth century and began from a non-Christian source in the court
of royalty.
Alexander the Great imposed this requirement
of court etiquette on anyone who would enter before the emperor. They would go down on one knee and usually
remain there until told to stand. It was
not only a sign of respect before a higher authority but also a sign of
submission on the part of the one engaged in that posture. You were not to look
directly at the Emperor but were expected to look down or to indirectly face him.
Since the later Middle Ages this same act of
respect and submission has become a part of our Catholic tradition. We by custom show the same sign of respect as
we enter Church before the presence of Christ in the tabernacle, normally as we
enter our pew. My Father, to his own
embarrassment and that of the family, once genuflected as he entered the line
of seats in a movie theater! Momentary distraction.
The similar gesture of a bow to Christ is
essentially the same meaning if you find it easier to allow gravity to take
over only to resist when trying to stand. By this silent gesture we are called
to submit ourselves to Christ, the higher divine creator and Lord, not in fear
but in humble service for others after his example and in his name.
The point of this gesture is a simple
illustration of our Gospel this Sunday.
We hear of servant leadership as the mark of a true Christian after the
example of Jesus himself.
While all this is a familiar theme for us
tied directly to it is that of suffering.
That’s a link we would rather whisper than proclaim loudly. Jesus speaks openly and certainly not for the
first time, of his approaching passion and death. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was the
link to the deeper meaning of Christian service. Yet, it is clear that the disciples did not
comprehend the connection completely for them personally but rather remain tied
to a more earthly understanding of authority and power. I would certainly rather be the Emperor than
the servant. I would much rather see
someone bow before me than bow before them. The pursuit of honor and authority
is always a temptation.
So, two brother disciples, James and John,
come before Jesus, after he has spoken clearly of his impending physical
suffering on the cross, with a bold request. One could certainly understand the
reaction of the other ten who were outraged at their presumption: “Grant that
in your glory we may sit one at your right and one at your left.” So they ask
for two positions of authority to rule with Jesus in his “kingdom.” Brazen?
Bold? It would seem so. Misguided
and misunderstood? Possibly. Selfish and dismissive of others? Could be. But their desire for two important
places of honor is not that unusual considering the culture of the time. Honor
was everything in this ancient culture. They seek to be quasi prime ministers
in the court of King Jesus.
What does Jesus do with them? He certainly does not react with anger or a
put down as to their misunderstanding of his mission. Rather, he uses this moment as an opportunity
to teach them and the others gathered the deeper meaning of his mission and how
they too will share in that, in particular the meaning of sacrifice and
suffering for a higher good. But even
more, what it truly means to follow his example of leadership and authority and
live as Christian disciples.
In light of James and John’s apparent
ambition, our Lord explains: “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your
servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the
Son of Man (Messiah) did not come to be served but to serve and to give his
life as a ransom for many.” We can only imagine the changed expression on the face
of the two misguided disciples and the reaction of the twelve as a whole.
In ancient culture, with its clear divisions
between the powerful and the poor; influential and lowly; Jew and gentile; men
and women; leaders and servants and slaves these words of Jesus must have had
an initial dousing affect. Like water
thrown on the fires of ambition his words of submission and slavery could not
have been more unexpected.
These twelve have made great sacrifices to
follow him now he says they must put aside hopes of reward and submit, genuflect
as it were, to the lowest. He illustrated this at the last supper as he washed
their feet in the action of a slave and further expanded its meaning ultimately
on the cross and in the sharing of the Eucharist. God went below the lowest to
raise us up with him.
The first reading from Isaiah the prophet uses
words like: “crush,” “afflicted,” “suffering” to describe this servant of
God. We hear this reading on Good Friday
so the Christian community has seen in it a fore shadow of Jesus’ own suffering
in this great prophet of Israel. But, it
is not suffering without merit for it has a quality of expiation – of salvation
and freedom given to it; a freedom for us and not for the personal benefit of
the one who suffers. This act of pouring out can only be explained by one great
word – Love. In the end God loves us not because of what we have done but
because of who he is.
Today’s world of rampant individualism; of
seeking what is best for me and my own advancement and position and this age of
subjective morality which acknowledges no absolute truth for the common good of
all and sees power and influence as a sign of authority needs to hear this
lesson. This Christian alternative way of viewing life and its purpose is
essential. While there is nothing wrong
with a desire to advance in one’s career and to seek respect from others to do
so as a measure of earthly success is to miss the mark.
For a Christian to add the deeper counter
cultural dimension of servant leadership by example is essential. We have academic and professional
degrees. We’ve worked hard and achieved
a certain level of responsibility but the danger of that is to think that all
depends on us alone.
You may not need to look very far: your marriage and family, your place of work,
your neighbors and friends; your parish community and wherever we may see an
opportunity to serve and not be served in the name of Jesus. My life as priest
and pastor must have no less examination. We all share in the same call to
servant leadership. Our Catholic faith is not a private or personal devotion
but a call to live as Christ Jesus and after his example for others. We then
become the food we consume at the Eucharist.
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