Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Lectionary: 605
Lectionary: 605
Brothers and
sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death
for the sake of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,
we too believe and therefore speak,
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you,
so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death
for the sake of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,
we too believe and therefore speak,
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you,
so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6
R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Gospel MT 20:20-28
The mother of the
sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her,
“What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her,
“What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Meditation: "Not to be served but to
serve"
Who doesn't want to be first, and to be esteemed and honored by
others? We seem to have an unquenchable thirst for recognition and
fame, power and authority to rule our own lives as we please as well as the
lives of others. Should we be surprised to see the disciples of
Jesus thirsting for power, position, and authority? James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, urged their mother to strike a deal with Jesus, their Master and
Messiah. They wanted the distinction of being first and most important in
position, next to Jesus, of course!
Jesus turns authority and power upside down
When Jesus called the twelve apostles to be his inner circle of disciples who would teach and exercise spiritual authority on his behalf, he did the unthinkable! Jesus taught contrary to the world's understanding of power, authority, and position, by reversing the order of master and servant, lord and subject, first and last! Jesus wedded authority with love, position with sacrifice, and service with humility. Authority without love is over-bearing and slavish. Position without respect and concern for the subordinate is demeaning and rude. And service without generosity and sacrifice is cheap and unkind.
When Jesus called the twelve apostles to be his inner circle of disciples who would teach and exercise spiritual authority on his behalf, he did the unthinkable! Jesus taught contrary to the world's understanding of power, authority, and position, by reversing the order of master and servant, lord and subject, first and last! Jesus wedded authority with love, position with sacrifice, and service with humility. Authority without love is over-bearing and slavish. Position without respect and concern for the subordinate is demeaning and rude. And service without generosity and sacrifice is cheap and unkind.
Those who wish to serve with the Lord Jesus and to exercise
authority in God's kingdom must be prepared to sacrifice - not just some of
their time, money, and resources - but their whole lives and all that they
possess! Jesus used stark language to explain what kind of sacrifice he had in
mind. His disciples must drink his cup if they expect to reign with him in his
kingdom. The cup he had in mind was a bitter one involving crucifixion. What
kind of cup does the Lord have in mind for us? For some disciples such a cup
entails physical suffering and the painful struggle of martyrdom. But for many,
it entails the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily
sacrifices, disappointments, set-backs, struggles, and temptations.
Christ's way of love and service
A disciple of Jesus must be ready to lay down his or her life - each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required - and even to the point of shedding one's blood if necessary for the sake of Christ and his Gospel. What makes such sacrifice a joy rather than a burden? It is love - the kind of "love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). An early church father summed up Jesus' teaching with the expression: "to serve is to reign with Christ." We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in humble service and love for one another, just as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus has taught and modeled for us?
A disciple of Jesus must be ready to lay down his or her life - each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required - and even to the point of shedding one's blood if necessary for the sake of Christ and his Gospel. What makes such sacrifice a joy rather than a burden? It is love - the kind of "love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). An early church father summed up Jesus' teaching with the expression: "to serve is to reign with Christ." We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in humble service and love for one another, just as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus has taught and modeled for us?
"Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom,
that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with love that
I may give generously and serve joyfully for your sake."
 Called to Be Servants |
|
July 25, 2014, Feast of Saint James, Apostle
|
|
Matthew 20: 20-28
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her
sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her,
"What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two
sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your
kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?´´ They said to him,
"We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup,
but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it
is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten
heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him
and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but
whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes
to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to
be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, in spite of my many failures, I know you
continue to call me. Your Spirit continues to guide me. I trust in you, love
you and praise you for all your gifts to me. Amen.
Petition: Lord Jesus, grant me a renewed sensitivity to the
deepest needs of others.
1. Called to Serve: In an era of Catholicism in which catch-phrases such as
“called to serve” have been overused to the point of becoming clichés, we
risk forgetting how central service is to the Christian life. The minutes of
our lives are consumed in an incessant cascade of apparently important and
urgent things to do. Doesn’t it happen, however, that in the midst of all
this we actually miss any number of opportunities to serve? Called to serve,
yes, but we miss the call! And our service gets sidelined. If service to my
brothers and sisters is not an ordinary element of my daily life as a
Christian, I can be sure that I have succumbed to self-deception or taken a
critically wrong turn somewhere.
2. A Continuation of Christ: We are called to give ourselves
unreservedly to others as a continuation of Christ. “A continuation of
Christ”: now, wouldn’t that make a wonderful epitaph?! For truly, if our
Christian service is not a prolongation, an extension of Jesus’ love, if we
are not giving him to others, if those whom we serve are not discovering him
in us, then our service is simply not service. It might be philanthropy, it
might be empathy, but it falls short of genuine Christian service if those
whom we serve do not discover Christ in us. Like John the Baptist, we must
become less so that Jesus can become more in us, so that our brothers and
sisters are not cheated out of encountering that Christ whom they secretly
long to discover in each of us.
3. What Service Means: Here it will be helpful simply to
examine ourselves on some of the essentials of Christian service. Is my daily
life characterized by a concern for the genuine good of others and by a
readiness to do all the good I can for my brothers and sisters? Do I actually
engage in daily acts of service, whether big or small? Do I examine myself
frequently on the sin of omission? Do I strive, in carrying on the ordinary
service required by my state in life, to do so with extraordinary
deliberateness and full, conscious self-giving?
Conversation with Christ: Father, you call me to serve, and I
know that service also means suffering at times. If suffering is to be a part
of your plan for me, give me the grace to collaborate with Christ your son in
the salvation of souls by offering that suffering generously to you. I ask
this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Resolution: Out of love for Christ, present in the least of my
brothers and sisters, I will examine myself on what genuine Christian service
means to me in practice, and what place it usually has in my daily life.
|
FRIDAY, JULY 25, MATTHEW 20:20-28
(2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126)
(2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant" (v. 26).
READING: For the third time in Matthew's gospel, Jesus taught his disciples about his coming passion and death, yet they still did not comprehend the reality of his words. A woman approached Jesus with the request that her sons, James and John, receive special honor in his kingdom. Her misconception was that Jesus' reign was an earthly rule with temporal authority. The other disciples were indignant over this (did they wish they had thought of it first?). Jesus reminded them that the way to the kingdom was not the path to glory. Being a disciple meant humble submission to the will of God. Jesus did not come to be served, but to offer his life as a ransom for those who were held captive to sin. James would share Jesus' suffering. He was the first apostle martyred when he was "killed with the sword" by the order of King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1-2).
REFLECTING: Do I hand on the faith that I have received, just as the apostles did in their time?
PRAYING: St. James, pray for me that I might courageously serve Christ as you did.
FEAST OF JAMES, APOSTLE
James, the son of Zebedee, along with his younger brother John were nicknamed Boanerges, "sons of thunder" by Jesus (Mk 3:17). They were natives of Galilee and fishermen when Jesus called them to follow him. James, John and Peter belonged to what seems to have been an inner circle of three. They were privileged witnesses when Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law, were present at the raising of Jairus' daughter, at the Transfiguration and Jesus' agony in the garden. James was killed by order of King Herod, probably by beheading. Most modern scholars hold that James was not the author of the epistle by that name. Among the reasons cited is that that the author of the epistle does not identify himself as an Apostle. Another reason is the elegant Greek literary style used, which is unlikely that of a Galilean peasant.
James, the son of Zebedee, along with his younger brother John were nicknamed Boanerges, "sons of thunder" by Jesus (Mk 3:17). They were natives of Galilee and fishermen when Jesus called them to follow him. James, John and Peter belonged to what seems to have been an inner circle of three. They were privileged witnesses when Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law, were present at the raising of Jairus' daughter, at the Transfiguration and Jesus' agony in the garden. James was killed by order of King Herod, probably by beheading. Most modern scholars hold that James was not the author of the epistle by that name. Among the reasons cited is that that the author of the epistle does not identify himself as an Apostle. Another reason is the elegant Greek literary style used, which is unlikely that of a Galilean peasant.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Our Job
We don’t need so much to talk about God but to allow people to
feel how God lives within us, that’s our work.
Those who sow in tears, shall reap with shouts of joy
Paul sees the suffering he bears on account of his faith as a
sharing in the death of Jesus.Paul contrasts this with the light of faith which brings joy to the Corinthians to whom this letter is addressed. Evidently, some of them were failing to perceive that the light of the knowledge of the glory of God was not due to their own efforts or talents. The mother of the sons of Zebedee and, indeed, all the apostles, seem to see the kingdom of God as mirroring the patronage, rivalry, favouritism and corruption of the state they already knew: the same old troubles only with them in charge. How often, even today, does Jesus find in his followers the failure to understand his message about the place of suffering and self-denial in those who are working to establish the kingdom of God on earth?
July
25
St. James
St. James
This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were
called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea
of Galilee. Jesus had already called another pair of brothers from a similar
occupation: Peter and Andrew. “He walked along a little farther and saw James,
the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their
nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along
with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20).
James 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.
Two
incidents in the Gospels describe the temperament of this man and his brother.
St. Matthew tells that their mother came (Mark says it was the brothers
themselves) to ask that they have the seats of honor (one on the right, one on
the left of Jesus) in the kingdom. “Jesus said in reply, ‘You do not know what
you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They said to
him, ‘We can’” (Matthew 20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink
the cup and share his baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right
hand or left was not his to give—it “is for those for whom it has been prepared
by my Father” (Matthew 20:23b). It remained to be seen how long it would take
to realize the implications of their confident “We can!”
The other
disciples became indignant at the ambition of James and John. Then Jesus taught
them all the lesson of humble service: The purpose of authority is to serve.
They are not to impose their will on others, or lord it over them. This is the
position of Jesus himself. He was the servant of all; the service imposed on
him was the supreme sacrifice of his own life.
On
another occasion, James and John gave evidence that the nickname Jesus gave
them—“sons of thunder”—was an apt one. The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus
because he was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the disciples James and
John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them...” (Luke 9:54-55).
James was
apparently the first of the apostles to be martyred. “About that time King
Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James,
the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was
pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3a).
This James,
sometimes called James the Greater, is not to be confused with James the Lesser
(May 3) or with the author of the Letter of James and the leader of the
Jerusalem community.
Comment:
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.
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.
Quote:
“...Christ the Lord, in whom the entire revelation of the most high God is summed up (see 2 Corinthians 1:20; 3:16–4:6), having fulfilled in his own person and promulgated with his own lips the Gospel promised by the prophets, commanded the apostles to preach it to everyone as the source of all saving truth and moral law, communicating God’s gifts to them. This was faithfully done: it was done by the apostles who handed on, by oral preaching, by their example, by their dispositions, what they themselves had received—whether from the lips of Christ, from his way of life and his works, or by coming to know it through the prompting of the Holy Spirit” (Vatican II, Constitution on Divine Revelation, 7).
“...Christ the Lord, in whom the entire revelation of the most high God is summed up (see 2 Corinthians 1:20; 3:16–4:6), having fulfilled in his own person and promulgated with his own lips the Gospel promised by the prophets, commanded the apostles to preach it to everyone as the source of all saving truth and moral law, communicating God’s gifts to them. This was faithfully done: it was done by the apostles who handed on, by oral preaching, by their example, by their dispositions, what they themselves had received—whether from the lips of Christ, from his way of life and his works, or by coming to know it through the prompting of the Holy Spirit” (Vatican II, Constitution on Divine Revelation, 7).
Patron Saint of:
Chile
Laborers
Nicaragua
Rheumatism
Spain
Chile
Laborers
Nicaragua
Rheumatism
Spain
LECTIO DIVINA:
SAINT JAMES, APOSTLE
Lectio:
Friday, July 25, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope and love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope and love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 20,20-28
Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came with her sons to make a
request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, 'What is it you want?' She
said to him, 'Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right
hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.'
Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?' They replied, 'We can.' He said to them, 'Very well; you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.'
When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that among the gentiles the rulers lord it over them, and great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?' They replied, 'We can.' He said to them, 'Very well; you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.'
When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that among the gentiles the rulers lord it over them, and great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
3) Reflection
• Jesus and the Disciples are on the way toward Jerusalem (Mt
20,17). Jesus knows that he will be killed (Mt 20,8). The Prophet Isaiah had
already announced it (Is 50,4-6; 53,1-10). His death will not be the fruit of a
blind destiny or of a pre-established plan, but it will be the consequence of
the commitment freely taken of being faithful to the mission which he received
from the Father together with the poor of the earth. Jesus had already said that
the disciple has to follow the Master and carry his cross behind him (Mt
16,21.24). But the disciples did not understand well what was happening (Mt
16,22-23; 17,23). Suffering and the cross did not correspond to the idea that
they had of the Messiah.
• Matthew 20,20-21: The petition of the mother of the sons of Zebedee. The Disciples only not understand but they continue to think about their personal ambitions. The mother of the sons of Zebedee, the spokesperson of her sons John and James, gets close to Jesus to ask for a favour: “Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your Kingdom.”
They had not understood the proposal of Jesus. They were concerned only about their own interests. This shows clearly the tensions in the communities, both at the time of Jesus and of Matthew, as also we see it in our own communities.
• Matthew 20,22-23: The response of Jesus. Jesus reacts firmly. He responds to the sons and not to the mother: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? It is a question of the chalice of suffering. Jesus wants to know if they, instead of the place of honour, accept to give their own life up to death. Both answer: “We can!” This was a sincere response and Jesus confirms it: “You shall drink my cup”. At the same time, it seems to be a hasty response, because a few days later, they abandon Jesus and leave him alone at the hour of suffering (Mt 26,51). They do not have a strong critical conscience, and they are not even aware of their own personal reality. And Jesus completes the phrase saying: “But it is not mine to grant that you sit at my right hand and my left, these seats belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father”. What Jesus can offer is the chalice of the suffering of the cross.
• Matthew 20,24-27: “Among you this is not to happen”. “When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers”. The request made by the mother in the name of the sons, causes a heated discussion in the group. Jesus calls the disciples and speaks to them about the exercise of power: “The rulers of nations, you know, dominate over them and the great exercise their power over them. Among you this is not to happen: anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave”. At that time, those who held power had no interest for the people. They acted according to their own interests (cf. Mc 14,3-12). The Roman Empire controlled the world submitting it with the force of arms and, in this way, through taxes, customs, etc., succeeded to concentrate the riches through repression and the abuse of power. Jesus had another response. He teaches against privileges and against rivalry. He overthrows the system and insists on the attitude of service which is the remedy against personal ambition. The community has to prepare an alternative. When the Roman Empire disintegrates, victim of its own internal contradictions, the communities should be prepared to offer to the people an alternative model of social living together.
• Matthew 20,28: The summary of the life of Jesus. Jesus defines his life and his mission: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. In this definition of self given by Jesus are implied three titles which define him and which were for the first Christians the beginning of Christology: Son of Man, Servant of Yahweh and older brother (close relative or Joel). Jesus is the Messiah, Servant, announced by the Prophet Isaiah (cf. Is 42,1-9; 49,1-6; 50,4-9; 52,13-53,12). He learnt from his mother who said: “Behold the servant of the Lord!” (Lk 1,38). This was a totally new proposal for the society of that time.
• Matthew 20,20-21: The petition of the mother of the sons of Zebedee. The Disciples only not understand but they continue to think about their personal ambitions. The mother of the sons of Zebedee, the spokesperson of her sons John and James, gets close to Jesus to ask for a favour: “Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your Kingdom.”
They had not understood the proposal of Jesus. They were concerned only about their own interests. This shows clearly the tensions in the communities, both at the time of Jesus and of Matthew, as also we see it in our own communities.
• Matthew 20,22-23: The response of Jesus. Jesus reacts firmly. He responds to the sons and not to the mother: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? It is a question of the chalice of suffering. Jesus wants to know if they, instead of the place of honour, accept to give their own life up to death. Both answer: “We can!” This was a sincere response and Jesus confirms it: “You shall drink my cup”. At the same time, it seems to be a hasty response, because a few days later, they abandon Jesus and leave him alone at the hour of suffering (Mt 26,51). They do not have a strong critical conscience, and they are not even aware of their own personal reality. And Jesus completes the phrase saying: “But it is not mine to grant that you sit at my right hand and my left, these seats belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father”. What Jesus can offer is the chalice of the suffering of the cross.
• Matthew 20,24-27: “Among you this is not to happen”. “When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers”. The request made by the mother in the name of the sons, causes a heated discussion in the group. Jesus calls the disciples and speaks to them about the exercise of power: “The rulers of nations, you know, dominate over them and the great exercise their power over them. Among you this is not to happen: anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave”. At that time, those who held power had no interest for the people. They acted according to their own interests (cf. Mc 14,3-12). The Roman Empire controlled the world submitting it with the force of arms and, in this way, through taxes, customs, etc., succeeded to concentrate the riches through repression and the abuse of power. Jesus had another response. He teaches against privileges and against rivalry. He overthrows the system and insists on the attitude of service which is the remedy against personal ambition. The community has to prepare an alternative. When the Roman Empire disintegrates, victim of its own internal contradictions, the communities should be prepared to offer to the people an alternative model of social living together.
• Matthew 20,28: The summary of the life of Jesus. Jesus defines his life and his mission: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. In this definition of self given by Jesus are implied three titles which define him and which were for the first Christians the beginning of Christology: Son of Man, Servant of Yahweh and older brother (close relative or Joel). Jesus is the Messiah, Servant, announced by the Prophet Isaiah (cf. Is 42,1-9; 49,1-6; 50,4-9; 52,13-53,12). He learnt from his mother who said: “Behold the servant of the Lord!” (Lk 1,38). This was a totally new proposal for the society of that time.
4) Personal questions
• James and John ask for favours. Jesus promises suffering. And
I, what do I seek in my relationship with God and what do I ask for in prayer?
How do I accept the suffering that comes to my life and which is the contrary
of what we ask in prayer?
• Jesus says: “May it not be like that among you!” Do our way of living in the Church and in the community agree with this advise of Jesus?
• Jesus says: “May it not be like that among you!” Do our way of living in the Church and in the community agree with this advise of Jesus?
5) Concluding Prayer
Then the nations kept saying,
'What great deeds Yahweh has done for them!'
Yes, Yahweh did great deeds for us,
and we were overjoyed. (Ps 126,2-3)
'What great deeds Yahweh has done for them!'
Yes, Yahweh did great deeds for us,
and we were overjoyed. (Ps 126,2-3)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét