The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.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 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 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 know
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 and who he has created us to be.
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 like the food we consume at the Eucharist.
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