SERVICE: THE MISSIONARY LIFESTYLE.
The Mission of Christ and every Christian missionary is the willingness to serve others generously and selflessly. This is the greatest missionary statement of all times: “For the Son of Man has come not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
Today, over one billion Catholics worldwide observe World Mission Sunday. This annual event was established 98 years ago in 1926 by Pope Pius XI’s papal decree. Every year since then, the Universal Church has dedicated the month of October to reflecting on and praying for the missions.
On this day, Catholics gather to celebrate the Eucharist by doing three fundamental actions:
- To remind all of her members that the Mission of Christ is the mission of the Church and our mission equally.
- To pray for the Church’s mission, especially for missionaries working in difficult places.
- To give our widow’s mites (collections) to the evangelical and charitable work on a global scale generously.
GREATNESS IN SERVICE
The Christian life is not only a life of self-effacing alone. It is also a life of loving service to others. This is the life Jesus Christ himself lived for others and called us all to embrace. Whether those we live for or serve are grateful or not.
Willingly, Jesus gave himself for our salvation; likewise, any authentic follower should also self-donate or self-empty himself for God and others. The self-emptying of Christ is not just a perfect example of a pastor. It is an exemplary leadership quality for all Christians to imitate as leaders.
A true Christian life should have the spirit of service to all. Whether in the family, workplace, Christian Church, or society. He should be disposed to serve others. He must be willing to lay down his life in the service of others.
OUR THEMES
The readings of this Sunday invite us to the way of the Lord. The way to glory or greatness is through sacrifices and lovely service to all. They assure us, that there is victory in suffering; gain in pains; crown in thorns; and life in death.
This is the gospel way of Christ less a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains a single grain. However, if it dies, it yields an abundance of fruits (John 12:24). Hence, any suffering or sacrifice accepted in the service of God and humanity has a reward of glory.
This week’s reflection outlines one of the fundamental qualities of leadership the humility to serve others. The High Priest of Christ is not a leader of prominent positions or power. It is all about service, self-emptying, or self-donating lives, times, talents, and resources for the greatest glory of God and the betterment of humanity.
In summary, today’s scriptural texts describe leadership as a sacrifice of service for others. Hence, Jesus offers us the best example. They also explain the Servant Jesus, pinpointing service and sacrifice as the criteria of greatness in the Kingdom of Christ.
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 53:10-11
The first reading is a Messianic prophecy from the Fourth Servant Song in the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. It tells how the promised Messiah will save humankind by dying in atonement for their sins.
The Prophet Isaiah presents us with the vision of the faithful servant of God who bears the sins and sorrows of the world. However, in his cruel suffering, he was not abandoned by God. Instead, through his sufferings, the suffering servant will prosper in the end.
THE IMAGE OF CHRIST IN THE SUFFERING SERVANT
The image of the Suffering Servant of God in the prophecy of Isaiah is a prefiguration of Christ the Lord, Saviour, and High Priest of our faith. Jesus has done this out of love for us, becoming the Suffering Servant crucified as an offering for sin, interceding for us and taking our punishment on Himself.
The prophecy presents one clear message: suffering or sacrifice comes through doing good. Thus, there will be glorification for those willing to accept suffering for the sake of others. Those who make sacrifices for peace, justice and redemption of others.
Therefore, the Prophet Isaiah. 53: 10-11 puts it beautifully, the result of the sacrifice of Christ, and indeed all pains and sufferings for the sake of the gospel “through his suffering, the servant of Yahweh will justify many”.
PSALM 33
The response to the psalm invites us with these words: Lord, may your mercy be upon us, as we place our trust in you. The Psalmist reminds us to trust God amidst our pains, sufferings and sacrifices.
SECOND READING: HEBREWS 4:14-16: CHRIST PRIESTHOOD: HIS DIVINITY
One of the most fundamental conceptions of Christ in the Book of Hebrews is his divinity and humanity manifested through his priesthood. Christ is the High Priest of our faith, according to the order of Melchizedek, His priesthood shows his divinity as one who is always in the Presence of God.
Jesus is the perfect high priest. His task as the High Priest is to bring the mercy and grace of God, to men. The high priest should have perfect knowledge of man and his weaknesses and he should also know God and his infinite love.
CHRIST PRIESTHOOD: HIS HUMANITY
Equally, Christ’s priesthood shows his human resemblance to us in all ways but sins. That is, the complete identification of Jesus with men is that he went through everything men go through. He went through trials and temptations, pains and sufferings, birth and death. He is like us in all things except that he emerged from them all sinless.
WEAK AND BROKEN GOD
The humanity identification of Christ to us in all things but sin portrays a vivid image of a humble, weak and broken God. The Godhead of the Most Holy Trinity is never an insensitive God. It is a communitarian, relational and vulnerable God especially, the Person of God: the Son: Jesus Christ.
This vulnerability or brokenness of God through sacrifices and suffering is one of the most beautiful things about God. This makes Christianity a spirituality of empathetic mercy and not a religion. The altruistic nature of a God who sacrifices himself for his followers.
He is not a sadist, stoic, ruthless, insensitive, or absentee God from men’s history and situations. No. He is always there with men and suffers with them in silence.
In the mystery of the Incarnation God demonstrates to us the infusion of Himself to human nature. He is a God, who is Omniscient (all-knowing) and Omnipotent (all-powerful). He is also an Omni-benevolence (supremely good) God.
Therefore, the Incarnation is one of the greatest proofs that God domesticated, adapted and inculturated himself in human history. It is also the highest and greatest proof of God’s love for us.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE VULNERABILITY AND BROKENNESS OF GOD THROUGH TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS AND SUFFERINGS
- Jesus without sin means he knows the depths, tensions, and assaults of temptation like us.
- This weakness through suffering and pain makes Jesus more perceptible to us.
- Jesus becomes the image of an approachable God nearer and closer to us than we could imagine.
- God is never the mean, untouchable, and faraway gods of many religions.
- Christ becomes the face of a sympathetic and empathetic God who understands and can relate to our struggles, failures and pains.
- The experience of Jesus through trials and temptations brings out the quality of mercy in God.
- Someone, who has never been tested, tempted, or failed in life is incapable of sympathising with those who have.
- A person or pastor who lacks empathy cannot feel, relate, or connect with those who struggle with human failures and weaknesses.
- God in Christ Jesus, lived and experienced what we are going through. Hence, he is compassionate, merciful and ready to forgive us more than we can imagine.
- Finally, God’s vulnerability in trials and temptations and the brokenness through sufferings and pains make Him sensitive to our plight.
- Hence God in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit offer us divine assistance in our efforts and struggles to live the Christian life.
In summary, Jesus Christ, our high priest, is very approachable. He is sympathetic and empathetic, with us in our struggles, failures and weaknesses. Jesus is a true leader who knows our needs and weaknesses. He understands our struggles, failures and sins because he too was tempted like us in all ways except that he never sinned.
The Book of Hebrews 4:14-16 demonstrated that Christ is God and the High Priest. He is also the Servant of Yahweh, who has experienced all trials, temptations, pains, and sufferings. Hence, he can feel for and with us in our struggles with pain, human brokenness and weakness.
THE GOSPEL: MARK 10:35-45: JOY IN SERVING OTHERS THROUGH SUFFERING
The Mission of God (Missio Dei) continues through Christ’s life and works. He went about doing good (cf. Acts 10:38), bringing justice, healing, forgiveness and kindness into people’s lives. Every Christian is called to do this as Christ’s disciples.
- A missionary is God’s faithful Servant who bears the world’s sins and sorrow, through personal suffering and pains. That will eventually end the prosperity of grace, goodness and mercy to all. Isaiah 53:10-11
- A missionary with a human face like Christ can empathise or sympathise with others, for the free flow of grace, mercy and peace.
- Mission and missionary are the acts of self-donation or self-emptying in the service of all.
However, Christ’s mission through the church and its serving members be it priests, religious or lay faithful should be:
- The Mission of Christ is not scheming to be in “buoyant” places or with “nice” people.
- It is the mission of “priestacrfting”, manipulating or controlling in the name of God.
- It is not a mission of self-importance, interest or assertion on inferior people but the children of God.
- It is not the mission of deadly ambitions or competing but serving and making God’s love known to men and women.
THE GOSPEL OF MARK 10:35-45: HUMAN SCHEMING THROUGH GOD
The art of scheming to positions of prominence and power was a human thing of time immemorial. When it appears in religion and Christianity that is “priestcraft” or “theocraft”.
Priestcraft is the art of men using their privileged position in the Christian Church not to serve God and others but for selfish interests.
On the other hand, theocraft is the manipulative skill of men using God or religion, not as a means of control, exploitation, and oppression rather than worshipping God and serving humanity.
THE APPROACH OF THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE
The Evangelist Mark was blunter than Matthew in presenting the ambitious act of the Sons of Zebedee: James and John. Mark tells us the brothers asked Jesus for the favour: to sit at his right and left hands in his Kingdom. While Matthew tells us, their mother asked for this favour from Christ.
WRONG TURNS ON THE PATH TO GREATNESS MARK 10.35 40
This is a very revealing story about the components and nature of the Disciples of Christ, especially the twelve Apostles. Matthew’s retelling of this story spares the Apostles James and John’s indecency in making such a request. He attributed it to their mother’s natural ambition who wanted a place of honour for her sons.
However, Mark was quite honest in his version. He shows us that the Twelve were not a company of saints. They were ordinary men whom Jesus chose to change they also had human commitment and cooperation with the grace of God.
This is also our own story, in the Choice of God. We are imperfect, yet God chose us to cooperate with grace to transform the world positively.
SOMETHING ABOUT JAMES AND JOHN
It tells us that they were ambitious. James and John show themselves as men whose hearts, there was ambition for the first place in an earthly kingdom.
It tells us that they had failed to understand Jesus completely. The image of the Messiah, which they had about Jesus, is one of earthly power and glory, not the Cross.
Besides, this misconception of James and John about Christ. The passage shows us that they still believed in Jesus.
Amazingly, they could connect glory with a Galilean carpenter, who was branded an outcast and outlaw prophet. He is the true son of God who incurred the enmity and the bitter opposition of the orthodox religious leaders. The Messiah indicated a victory through suffering and heading for the cross.
THE CHOSEN IMAGE OF THE COMMUNITY OF CHRIST
The Chosen, an American television drama based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins depict a vivid image of the humanness of the community of Christ.
The creative backstories to the biblical stories! This is amazing and revolutionary dotting, the “i” and crossing “t” of Jesus’ life and that of all the major biblical characters of the four gospels! It is a must-watch movie and frees through the Chosen apps on iPhone or Android!
MY CHALICE AND MY BAPTISM
Jesus uses two Jewish metaphors here when he asks, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” First, the cup became a metaphor for the life and experience that God handed out to men. Therefore, the cup speaks of the experience allotted to men by God.
Jesus speaks of baptism from the significance of the Greek verb “baptisein”, which means to dip. In this context, Jesus was talking about being submerged in any experience. Jesus used it, the term had nothing to do with technical baptism.
Baptism means a radical submission to God and his plan for us. Jesus said “Can you bear to go through the terrible experience which I have to go through? Can you face being submerged in hatred, pain, and death, as I have to be?” He told these two disciples that without a cross, there could never be a crown.
GREATNESS STANDARD FOR JESUS
The standard of greatness in the Kingdom is the standard of the Cross of sacrifices and sufferings. They accepted the challenge of their Master, even if they did so blindly. However, Jesus told them that the ultimate decision of who sits at his right or left hands belonged to God. It is the prerogative of God singularly. Christ Jesus’ whole life, was one long act of submission to the will of God.
TRUTH AND SERVICE: THE BASES OF JESUS’ COMMUNITY LIFE
Inevitably, James and John’s actions provoked deep resentment amongst the other ten apostles. Once again, Mark shows us the human element in the community of Jesus. The scrambling for power, authority, positions and favours when Jesus was predicting his suffering and death. This is the height of insensitivity and ambitions.
The ten apostles whether it was, James, John, or their mother asked for this favour of Jesus. It seemed unfair to scheme for them to try to steal greatness in the way. Immediately, the old controversy about who was the greatest among them began to rage again.
Here, we see Jesus’ approach to resolving conflict in his community. Even though, conflict in life is a normal, natural and human thing. Jesus did not ignore this conflict. Rather he addressed them head-on with a sense of truth, justice and firmness.
GREATNESS IN SERVICE
In today’s gospel, Jesus overturns our ranking system of greatness in society. For Jesus, the People who serve are noblest of all in the sight of God. Hence, the humility of service is the standard for greatness in life and Christian communities.
In other words, Jesus was clear about the different standards of greatness in his Kingdom and men’s kingdoms. According to worldly kingdoms, the standard for human importance is power. The test is; how many people does a man control or have at his disposal? Or, how many people can he impose his will? What place of prominence does he occupy? What degrees or titles does he or she have attached to his person? How superior, intelligent, influential or powerful is he among other people?
In the opinion of Jesus, the standard of the greatness of his Kingdom is that of service. True greatness implies not reducing other men to one’s service. It is humbling oneself to serve others. The test is not what service can I extract? No. It is what service can I give?
CALL TO SERVE AND MODERN CHRISTIAN CHALLENGE
Therefore, dedication to service is fundamental to Christian discipleship. Jesus wholeheartedly affirmed this when he stated and acted accordingly. The Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to be a servant of others and give his life a ransom for many.
Equally, when he washed his feet of his disciples at the Last Supper as a perfect example of service to others, that is the project of Christ, there is no room for tyrants, rulers, lords, or autocrats in the Kingdom of God.
Likewise, the spirit of service to others is paramount to the Christian Church or community. Leadership, whether in society, the Christian Church, or the religious cycle. It is a call to serve others and not the feeling of worldly greatness through power and authoritativeness.
It is obvious Jesus, in the gospel of Mark 10:35-45, affirms this way of pain and suffering as the only way to glory and victory. Equally, he invites all with the tendencies of self-importance to be a servant of all. As he, Christ challenges us all to learn and imitate his perfect example.
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
1. What image of God or Christ do we as pastors or Christians present to people today?
2. An approachable, closer, loving, merciful, sympathetic and empathetic God?
3. On the other hand, a mean, stoic, untouchable, punishing and insensitive God?
4. A demagogue Christ who demands serving loyalty from his subjects? Or a self-effacing servant who lays his life in service to others?
5. What criteria should the Christian Church or community implement to rule itself? Especially, in a world of many conflicts and scheming for power? Who should be the leader or make decisions in the Christian assembly?
6. What is the true mark of leadership in the Christian Church or community?
7. Should our leaders be selfish, narcissistic individuals who are self-obsessed? With a deep sense of self-importance, self-centeredness, or self-entitlement?
8. Someone full of arrogance, manipulative, and insensitive to others?
9. Rather should the true leader be an empathetic individual? Who can connect, relate, feel and have the humility to serve others?
10. How do we address or tackle arising conflicts or difficulties in our societal, communal or familial life?
11. Do we address conflictual issues head-on or allow them to deepen badly?
12. Do the truth, justice, and fairness prevail in communal conflicts to ensure peaceful resolutions?
13. Or do we suppress the truth and justice-making room for divisions, bitterness or disharmony?
14. Do we imitate the peaceful way of resolving conflicts in Jesus’ community knowing peace is only possible when there is justice and fairness?
15. What mentality drives our attitudes in the Christian community or church? Attitudes of dominance, entitlement, authoritarian, control or power? Or the sincere desire to serve others humbly as Christ did?
POPE FRANCIS’ INVITATION
Pope Francis’ theme for 2024 World Mission Sunday is rooted in the Gospel of Matthew: “Go and Invite everyone to the Banquet,” reflecting the inclusive and urgent call to bring God’s love to everyone. Therefore, let us join this universal mission to spread the Gospel by praying, giving, participating and inviting all to experience the joy of Christ’s message! This is the Sinodal calling of our time and age.
OUR MISSION PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of Mission and all missionary activities help us be self-effacing, self-giving, self-emptying or donating. Especially, to any course of glorifying God and bettering our human conditions. May our Christian life not only be heaven-oriented or bound with self-seeking but with loving, willing, free, or wholehearted service to all through pain sacrifices and suffering. Amen
