The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of the tension in our lives between power and privilege, and service that makes Christ visible.
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| Service and sharing |
The reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians declares the paradox of the Ministry that calls for the life of Jesus to be made visible in our mortal flesh.
* [4:10–11] Both the negative and the positive sides of the experience are grounded christologically. The logic is similar to that of 2 Cor 1:3–11. His sufferings are connected with Christ’s, and his deliverance is a sign that he is to share in Jesus’ resurrection.1
Psalm 126 celebrates a harvest of Joy.
* [Psalm 126] A lament probably sung shortly after Israel’s return from exile. The people rejoice that they are in Zion (Ps 126:1–3) but mere presence in the holy city is not enough; they must pray for the prosperity and the fertility of the land (Ps 126:4). The last verses are probably an oracle of promise: the painful work of sowing will be crowned with life (Ps 126:5–6).2
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches after the request of the mother of James and John.
* [20:20–28] Cf. Mk 10:35–45. The request of the sons of Zebedee, made through their mother, for the highest places of honor in the kingdom, and the indignation of the other ten disciples at this request, show that neither the two brothers nor the others have understood that what makes for greatness in the kingdom is not lordly power but humble service. Jesus gives the example, and his ministry of service will reach its highest point when he gives his life for the deliverance of the human race from sin.3
Cindy Murphy McMahon contemplates if every Christian in the world reflected on just these words of Jesus each day, and put them into practice, how different would our world be? Imagine if all leaders were striving to be humble and lay down their lives for their followers, never seeking power and prestige? Imagine if all who were not leaders, per se, were seeking at all times only to better their fellow women, men and children and not themselves.
Who grows up naturally wanting to serve others? Not too many of us. Receiving honors, accolades and power are enticing experiences for human beings. Jesus turns those ideas on their heads. He says to be great is to serve.
Some people do derive real pleasure from putting others’ needs before their own in some situations, but to consistently make that your way of thinking and behaving takes a deeply spiritual change, a conversion of the heart.4
Don Schwager quotes “Not to be served but to serve,” by John Chrysostom (344-407 AD).
"[Jesus] says, 'The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.' It is as if he were saying, 'I willed not even to stop at death but even in death gave my life as a ransom. For whom? For enemies. For you. If you are abused, my life is given for you. It is for you. Me for you.' So you need not be too picky if you suffer the loss of your honor. No matter how much it is lowered, you will not be descending as far as your Lord descended. And yet the deep descent of one has become the ascent of all. His glory shines forth from these very depths. For before he was made man, he was known among the angels only. But after he was made man and was crucified, so far from lessening that glory, he acquired further glory besides, even that from his personal knowledge of the world.""So fear not then, as though your honor were put down. Rather, be ready to abase yourself. For in this way your glory is exalted even more, and in this way it becomes greater. This is the door of the kingdom. Let us not then go the opposite way. Let us not war against ourselves. For if we desire to appear great, we shall not be great but even the most dishonored of all. Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did not expect. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 65.4.25)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 20:20-28 comments Jesus’ example must have had a profound impact on James because he followed in his footsteps. Like Jesus, he preached the gospel of God’s love and mercy. Like Jesus, he laid down his life for God’s people (Acts 12:2). James was probably still the zealous person he always was, but that zeal was now directed toward love and self-sacrifice. So what can we learn from the story of James’ life?
That God can mold us into saints, whatever our personality. It doesn’t matter whether we are intense or laid-back, extroverted or shy, spontaneous or cautious. What matters is that we keep following Jesus and learn from his example.
That’s why we shouldn’t get discouraged by personality traits that we think are obstacles to discipleship. God made us that way for a purpose. Just as he did for James, God can take whatever we see as a negative and turn it into a positive by redirecting it in a way that builds his kingdom.6
Friar Jude Winkler explains Paul’s reference to earthen vessels. He notes the role of the Jewish mother to promote her sons in Matthew’s Gospel. We are most in God’s image when we serve. Friar Jude suggests that we seek those in most need of our service today.
A post by Franciscan Media about Saint James the Apostle comments that he was one of the favored three who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemani.
The way the Gospels treat the apostles is a good reminder of what holiness is all about. There is very little about their virtues as static possessions, entitling them to heavenly reward. Rather, the great emphasis is on the Kingdom, on God’s giving them the power to proclaim the Good News. As far as their personal lives are concerned, there is much about Jesus’ purifying them of narrowness, pettiness, fickleness.7
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Psychotherapist Joan Norton who offers a meditation in which we can all participate.
There was a time when we women knew ourselves to be in sacred partnership, knew ourselves to be the Sacred Complement to the Bridegroom . . . knew that masculine and feminine God meet within each human being .8
The Spirit nudges us to contemplate how our unique characteristics and gifts are called to serve others.
References
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