The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to confront the message of our culture about leadership and the cult of personality.
The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians describes the Paradox of the Ministry and our treasure in clay jars.
* [4:7] This treasure: the glory that he preaches and into which they are being transformed. In earthen vessels: the instruments God uses are human and fragile; some imagine small terracotta lamps in which light is carried.
* [4:8–9] A catalogue of his apostolic trials and afflictions. Yet in these the negative never completely prevails; there is always some experience of rescue, of salvation.
* [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.
* [4:12–15] His experience does not terminate in himself, but in others (12, 15; cf. 2 Cor 1:4–5). Ultimately, everything is ordered even beyond the community, toward God (2 Cor 4:15; cf. 2 Cor 1:11).
* [4:13–14] Like the Psalmist, Paul clearly proclaims his faith, affirming life within himself despite death (2 Cor 4:10–11) and the life-giving effect of his experience upon the church (2 Cor 4:12, 14–15). And place us with you in his presence: Paul imagines God presenting him and them to Jesus at the parousia and the judgment; cf. 2 Cor 11:2; Rom 14:10. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)
Psalm 126 praises 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). (Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus responds to 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.
* [20:20–21] The reason for Matthew’s making the mother the petitioner (cf. Mk 10:35) is not clear. Possibly he intends an allusion to Bathsheba’s seeking the kingdom for Solomon; see 1 Kgs 1:11–21. Your kingdom: see note on Mt 16:28.
* [20:22] You do not know what you are asking: the Greek verbs are plural and, with the rest of the verse, indicate that the answer is addressed not to the woman but to her sons. Drink the cup: see note on Mk 10:38–40. Matthew omits the Marcan “or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized” (Mk 10:38).
* [20:28] Ransom: this noun, which occurs in the New Testament only here and in the Marcan parallel (Mk 10:45), does not necessarily express the idea of liberation by payment of some price. The cognate verb is used frequently in the LXX of God’s liberating Israel from Egypt or from Babylonia after the Exile; see Ex 6:6; 15:13; Ps 77:16 (76 LXX); Is 43:1; 44:22. The liberation brought by Jesus’ death will be for many; cf. Is 53:12. Many does not mean that some are excluded, but is a Semitism designating the collectivity who benefit from the service of the one, and is equivalent to “all.” While there are few verbal contacts between this saying and the fourth Servant Song (Is 52:13–53:12), the ideas of that passage are reflected here. (Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jay Carney struggles to think of a challenge or invitation (indeed, this question is both) that would be greater than this. “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
…which brings us to our answer. How could we possibly drink that chalice? How can we accept God’s invitation amidst this tension? The answer, itself is God: the one in whom we place our hope. The one who asks the question is the very answer, for God asks nothing of us with which he will not himself assist. God asks us to go nowhere he will not himself accompany us. God is the difference-maker when it comes to our drinking from that chalice.
So, let us pray for awareness of those times in our life when God poses this question to us. Let us pray also for the hope to inspire our Yes. God will be right there with us. (Carney, 2023)
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) (Schwager, 2022)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 comments that James had every reason to feel afflicted, persecuted, and struck down (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9). But none of these experiences—not even his death—signaled utter defeat. That’s because his relationship with the risen Lord gave him unshakable confidence. Death was no longer the last word for James. And it isn’t for us. (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, n.d.)
We all face suffering and trials. But the fact that we’re celebrating St. James today tells us that we can experience the same hope and confidence he knew, even as we go through our challenges. That’s because we are all sharers in Jesus’ resurrection—not only in heaven but right here on earth!
“Jesus, help me to know the power of your resurrection today.”
Franciscan Media comments that James was apparently the first of the apostles to be martyred.
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. (Saint James, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler underlines the exhortation of Paul that declares the apostles as simple fragile men with a mission from God. In the original account in Mark, James and John directly seek the places of honour without the intercession of their mother. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus reveals what it is to be God-like through His service.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, believes that true prayer starts with a positive “yes” and surrender to God and reality. He advises “neither clinging nor opposing” as helpful when it comes to facing our distractions in contemplative prayer.
We must listen honestly to ourselves. Listen to whatever thought or feeling arises. Listen long enough to ask, “Why am I thinking this? What is this saying about me that I need to entertain this negative, accusatory, or lustful thought?”
We don’t have to hate or condemn ourselves for a thought or feeling, but we do have to let it yield its wisdom. Then we will see it is the wounded or needy part of us that wants these unhealthy thoughts. Our True Self, our Whole Self, does not need them, and will not identify with them.
If we can allow our thoughts and feelings to pass through us, neither clinging to them nor opposing them—and without ever expecting perfect success—I promise that we will come to a deeper, wider, and wiser place. Even our inability to fully succeed is, in itself, another wonderful lesson. [3] (Rohr, 2022)
The Spirit reveals the Way of Jesus that leads our journey through self sacrifice and humility.
References
Carney, J. (2023, July 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072523.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 20 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20?20
Meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/25/742451/
Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/126?1
Rohr, R. (2022, August 30). What We Resist Persists. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/what-we-resist-persists-2023-07-25/
Saint James. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-james/
Schwager, D. (2022, August 30). Not to Be Served but to Serve. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul25a
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/4?7
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