BIBLE STUDY #111


TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

October 21, 2012



READING 1

ISAIAH 53:10-11



The LORD was pleased

to crush him in infirmity.



If he gives his life as an offering for sin,

he shall see his descendants in a long life,

and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.



Because of his affliction

he shall see the light in fullness of days;

through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,

and their guilt he shall bear.



The Word of the Lord



READING 2

HEBREWS 4:14-16



Brothers and sisters:

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who has similarly been tested in every way,

yet without sin.

So let us confidently approach the throne of grace

to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.



The Word of the Lord



GOSPEL

MARK 10:35-45



James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,

"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."

He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"

They answered him, "Grant that in your glory

we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."

Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the cup that I drink

or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

They said to him, "We can."

Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,

and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;

but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.

Jesus summoned them and said to them,

"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles

lord it over them,

and their great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, 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 did not come to be served

but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."



The Gospel of the Lord



Reflection



James and John, along with Peter, form Jesus’ inner circle (see 5:37, 9:2, 14:33). This is the only time that James and John act on their own. It seems that in Matthew’s Gospel, he finds this request so offensive he attributes it to the “mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matt 20:20-21).



The disciples want Jesus to give them anything they want, like writing a blank check. To clarify, Jesus asks a polite question, "What do you wish me to do for you?" And they respond, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."



This request is self centered and shows their failure to grasp Jesus message contained in his passion prediction, like Peter in 8:32-33 and the other disciples in 9:33-34. James and John are seeking special places of prominence at Jesus second coming and in the fullness of the Kingdom.



Then Jesus says, “Can you drink the cup that I drink” refers to the cup of suffering Jesus undergoes during his passion (see 14:36).



When Jesus asks them if they can be “baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?, " he is not referring to baptism as we know it, but dying and rising, as in his passion, death and resurrection. It does remind us that, as St. Paul says, we are baptized into the death of Christ (Romans 6:3-4).



The disciples say that they can, but it is a foolish although confident remark that shows the depth of their misunderstanding of Jesus and ironically prepares us for their cowardice when Jesus is arrested (14:50).



It’s a mystery why the apostles weren’t arrested with Jesus and executed. It is tradition that most of them were eventually martyred. Jesus doesn’t say specifically that James and John will be martyred, but it does say that they will be persecuted on account of their ties to Jesus and in that sense they share his baptism and cup.



This is one of a couple instances where certain powers or functions are left to God the Father (see Mark 13:32 and 10:40). It is not certain who is to sit on God’s left and right.



The other 10 apostles became indignant at James and John. Were they jealous that these 2 asked first? This gives Jesus an opportunity to teach about true leadership and service.



The apostles would have already been familiar with the way people ruled: great ones made their authority felt and lorded it over those under them. Those ruled would have been subject to unlimited and overwhelming power.



I’d bet that the Apostles were surprised by Jesus next comment: “But it shall not be so among you.” I’d bet they expected that when Jesus came into his kingdom that he would be like all other rulers of the day. Is that why they wanted prominent places? Was it for power and control over others?



Jesus description of the way people should rule is the opposite of everyone else: “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” The word for servant is “diakonos” which is used in the New Testament letters to mean deacon. In this more generic context, it means servant. This idea of a servant leader also appears in Mark 1:13, 1:31, 10:45, and 14:47. A slave is usually thought of as serving one master and doing the bidding of that master. Being the slave of all underlies Jesus universal service toward all other people.



If it wasn’t clear enough, Jesus expounds further on his idea of leadership: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” Jesus isn’t interested in manipulating or controlling others, but to make the lives of others better. To me, serving indicates that someone is willing to do whatever is necessary to aid and assist another in whatever ways are necessary to improve someone’s life. Being a slave tells me that Jesus will do anything to that end. He is not interested in what we can do for him, but what he can do for us.



And how does Jesus serve us? He gave “his life as a ransom for many." Ransom refers to the price necessary to release a slave from captivity. We were held ransom by our sins, and there was no way we could atone for our sins. Jesus paid the price (ransomed us) for our sins through his death and resurrection, which freed us from the captivity of sin.



The best example of Jesus’ concept of servant leadership is in the Servant Songs of Isaiah, part of which we have in today’s first reading. We look on these Servant Songs as telling us that Jesus suffering, death and resurrection is a sacrifice for, and expiation of, our sins.



When I think of a servant leader, I always think of someone who leads by example; someone who practices what they preach; someone who is confident enough in themselves and what they believe not to be offended by differing opinions; someone who is humble enough to realize that they make mistakes and need to change; someone who is ready to accept the talents and abilities of others, even if it means they must be in the background; someone who has ideas based on their experience that is grounded in prayer, and blessed by the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that God sends more of these servant leaders to our Church.







Fr. Phil