THERE IS GREATNESS IN SERVICE THROUGH SUFFERING
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 as well. Whether those we live for or serve are grateful or not.
Jesus willingly gave up himself for our salvation; likewise, any authentic follower of Christian must 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 in the world.
A true Christian life should have the spirit of service 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, there is victory in sufferings; gain in pains; crown in thorns; and life in death.
This is the gospel way of Christ that until a grain falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single grain, but 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.
The readings of the reflection of this week outline one of the fundamental qualities of leadership. The humility to serve others. Indeed, for Christ, the High priest of our faith, leadership is not about prominent positions or power. It is all about service, self-emptying, or self-donation of our lives, times, talents, and resources for the greatest glory of God and the betterment of humanity.
In summary, the Scripture readings of today describe leadership as the sacrificial service done for others. And Jesus offers us the best example. They also explain the servant leadership of 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 taken 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 our sins.
The Prophet Isaiah presents us with the vision of the faithful servant of God who bears the sins and sorrow 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 OF THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH
The image of the Suffering Servant of God in the prophecy of Isaiah is a prefiguration of Christ. The Lord, the Saviour and the 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 us with one clear of suffering or sacrifice in the course of doing the good. There is glorification for those who are willing to accept suffering for the sake of others. Especially when for peace, justice and redemption of others, sacrifices are made.
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 responsorial of 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 of the need to trust in 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 voice of God to man and to usher men into the presence of God. The high priest should have perfect knowledge of man and God at the same time.
CHRIST PRIESTHOOD: HIS HUMANITY
Equally, Christ priesthood brings out his resemblance to us in all ways but sins. In other words, the complete identity of Jesus with men is that he went through everything that a man has to 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 it sinless.
THE WEAK AND BROKEN GOD
The humanity identification of Christ to us in all things but sin portrays a vivid image of humble, weak and broken God. The Godhead of the Most Holy Trinity is never insensitive God. It is a communitarian, relational and vulnerable God especially, the Person of God: the Son: Jesus Christ.
However, the vulnerability or brokenness of God through sacrifices ad suffering is one of the most beautiful things about God. What makes Christianity a spirituality and not a religion is the nature of Christian God. He is not stoic, ruthless, insensitive and absentee God.
The mystery of the Incarnation God demonstrates to us the inculturation of Himself to human nature. He is a God, that is Omniscience (all-knowing) and Omnipotence (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. This is the proof of the highest and greatest love of God for us.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE VULNERABILITY AND BROKENNESS OF GOD THROUGH TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS AND SUFFERINGS
- Jesus without sin means that he knew depths, tensions, and assaults of temptation, which we never can know. This weakness through sufferings and pains make Jesus more perceptible to us.
- Jesus becomes the image of an approachable God. A God who is nearer and closer to us than the mean, untouchable and faraway gods of many religions are.
- 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. For someone who was never tested or tempted or failed in life is easier said than done. Such a person is incapable of feeling, relating or connecting with those in struggles and failures. 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 ever imagine.
- Finally, the vulnerability of God through trials and temptations and the brokenness of God through sufferings and pains make Him sensitive to our plight. Hence, God in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit offers 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. With the exception that he never sin like us.
The author of 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 been one who has gone through all trials and temptations, pains and sufferings. Hence, he is capable of feeling for us and with us in our struggles with pain, human brokenness and weaknesses.
THE GOSPEL: MARK 10:35-45
HUMAN SCHEMING THROUGH GOD
The art of scheming to positions of prominence and power is a human thing right from time immemorial of humankind. When it appears in religion and Christianity, that is “priestcraft” or “theocraft”.
Priestcraft is the art of men using the privileged position in the Christian Church not to serve God and others but for selfish interests. While 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 blunt 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 of this favour from Christ.
This is a very revealing story on the components and nature of the Disciples of Christ, especially the twelve Apostles. Matthew retelling of this story spares the Apostles James and John indecency of making such a request. He attributed it to the natural ambition of their mother, who wanted the place of honour for her sons.
Mark was quite honest in his version. He shows to us that the Twelve were not a company of saints. They were ordinary men whom Jesus chose to change the world and did it. Through their human commitment and cooperation with the grace of God.
This is also our own story in the Choice of God. We are not perfect, yet God chose us to cooperate with grace to bring about positive transformation in the world.
SOMETHING IN THIS PASSAGE ABOUT JAMES AND JOHN
- It tells us that they were ambitious. James and John show themselves as men in 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 still connect glory with a Galilean carpenter. A branded outcast and outlaw prophet who had incurred the enmity and the bitter opposition of the orthodox religious leaders. The Messiah t talked about a victory through suffering and who was apparently heading for a cross.
THE CHOSEN IMAGE OF THE COMMUNITY OF CHRIST
The Chosen, the American television drama based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth, created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins depicts 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 asked, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 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 its significance of the Greek verb “baptizein”, which means to dip. In this context, then, Jesus was talking about being submerged in any experience. The expression, as Jesus used it here, had nothing to do with technical baptism.
Baptism means a radical submission to God and his plan for us. What he is saying is, “Can you bear to go through the terrible experience which I have to go through? Can you face being submerged in hatred and pain and death, as I have to be?” He was telling 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. And, Christ Jesus, in his whole life, was one long act of submission to the will of God.
TRUTH AND SERVICE: THE BASES OF COMMUNITY LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY OF JESUS
Inevitably, the action of James and John provoked a 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 is predicting his suffering and death. This is the height of insensitive and ambitions.
For the ten apostles, whether it was James or 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 to be greatest began to rage again.
Here, we see Jesus approach to resolve the conflict in his community. As much as this conflict is a normal, natural and human thing, Jesus did not ignore these conflicts but addressed them head-on with a sense of truth, justice and firmness.
GREATNESS IN SERVICE
However, irrespective of who did the asking, Jesus overturns our ranking system in the gospel text today. 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 made quite clear the different standards of greatness in his Kingdom and the kingdoms of the world. In the kingdoms of the world, the standard for human importance is power. The test is; how many people does a man control or have at his disposal? On how many people can he impose his will? What is place prominence does he occupy? What degrees or titles he has attached to his name? 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. Greatness consists not in reducing other men to one’s service. It is in 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. And washed the feet of his disciples at the Last supper as a perfect example of service to others. In other words, there is no room for tyrants, rulers, lords or autocrats in the Kingdom of Jesus.
Likewise, in the Christian Church or community, the scheme of service to others is paramount. Leadership, whether in the society, the Christian Church, or the religious cycle. It is a called 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 the 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
- What image of God do we as pastors or Christians present to people of the world today? An approachable and closer, loving, merciful, sympathetic and empathetic God? On the other hand, a mean, stoic, untouchable, punishing and insensitive God?
- What criteria should the Christian Church or community implement to rule itself? Especially in a world many conflicts and scheming for power? Who should be the leader or make decisions in the Christian assembly?
- What is the true mark of leadership in the Christian Church or community? Should our leaders be selfish, narcissistic individuals who are self-obsessed? With a deep sense of self-importance, self-centeredness, or self-entitlement? Who is full of arrogance, manipulative, and insensitive to others? Rather should the true leader be an empathetic individual? Who is capable of connecting, relating and feeling and have the humility to serve others?
- How do we address or tackle the arising conflicts or difficulties in our societal, communal or familial life? Do we address conflictual issues head-on, or do we allow them to deepen badly? Do we allow truth, justice, and fairness to prevail in communal conflicts to ensure peaceful resolutions? Or do we try to suppress the truth and justice-making room for divisions, bitterness or disharmony?
- Do we imitate the peaceful way of resolving conflicts in the community of Jesus- knowing peace is only possible when there is justice and fairness?
- What mentality drives our attitudes in the Christian community or church? The attitudes of dominance, entitlement, authoritarian, control or power? Or the sincere desire to serve others humbly as Christ did?
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, human scheming may be normal or natural. However, it is not the way to greatness in your Kingdom. You explain and show us the importance of service and sacrifice in the life of a disciple by your example. You who came not to be served but to serve and gave yourself for the salvation of all.
Help us to be self-effacing, self-giving or donating to the course of bettering others than ourselves. And may our Christian life not only be heaven-oriented or bound with glory-seeking. May it be also in loving, willing freely or wholeheartedly service to all through pains and sufferings. Amen
