may 22, 2005

"Fuzzy" Photo appears to be a Kestrel 5/22/05

May 25, 2005

The Greatest Among You Mk 10:32-45

The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.
Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise." Then 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 chalice 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 chalice 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."
"Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all." This is the life in Christ. Easy to understand but more difficult to live every day.

"Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" The prayers of Jesus in the Garden before his arrest come to mind this morning immediately on reading this. Jesus was willing to drink the cup offered if it was God's will although he seemed to be asking God if there was another way that things could be done if not he was ready to do God's will. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friend.

As a Christian the actual sacrifice of life for God can be asked for or more commonly little sacrifices and deaths of self daily in serving the needs of others. For me it means doing more sometimes when I feel tired and my day is over but there is someone in need of my giving. It is not always an easy way, but it creates a peace of conscience at the end of the day and few regrets of the self actions of the day.