Today we hear Jesus ask James and John, “What do you wish me to do for you?” Their response betrays their self-centeredness. We ought to remind ourselves that what Jesus has already done for us exceeds all we could possibly ask. Rather than following the example of these two disciples, let us look to the author of Hebrews, who called us to approach Jesus to receive mercy and to find grace. Let us do so as we receive him in the Eucharist.
Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word
Today’s readings, with their focus on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, recall the readings of Holy Week. Today’s passage from Isaiah is part of the lon- ger passage we hear on Good Friday, describing the Suffering Servant, whose voluntary suffering atones for the sins of many. Today’s Gospel foreshadows Holy Thursday’s Gospel, with Jesus telling his disciples that he came to serve, not to be served. As the author of Hebrews says, let us look to Jesus for timely help.
Reflections
• Not only did Isaiah write centuries before the birth of Jesus, he also wrote centuries before the promise of resurrection. Yet in the course of the three sentences we hear today, he appears to foresee both. The Suffering Servant, the subject of a number of his poems, is a wonderful characterization of our Lord. Like Jesus, he offered his life to save us from our sins. He bore the guilt of humanity, lived his life to serve others, and his suffering saved many. But when Isaiah says that though the Suffering Servant gave up his own life he can still see his descendants, he suggests a life beyond the tragic one he embraced. Though his days were dark, filled with affliction and suffering, “he shall see the light in fullness of days” (Isaiah 53:11). May we, no matter how dark our suffering, see the light of a life beyond all human understanding.
• Mark calls them, casually, “James and John, the sons of Zebedee” (Mark 10:35), but we call them, formally, “Saint James, Apostle” and “Saint John, Apostle.” As saints, we take it on faith that they are in heaven, in the presence of God. As two of the original apostles, if we were to imagine their place in heaven, we could certainly imagine them close to the “throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). Yet Jesus’ response to them, his words to all the disciples, and pretty much everything he ever said, all imply that this is the last place where they would be. They misunderstood glory in the same way many misunderstood kingdom. The glory these future saints imagined is not one of recognition for their status, for in the kingdom, just to be in the eternal presence of God is glorious.
• To be a disciple means being a servant of all, serving our neighbor to the extent that we can. This is our mission. We can do this through works of charity, both far-reaching and close to home. We can do this by continually looking for what we can do for others. Perhaps our common refrain as a disciple should be, “What can I do?” This attitude of service makes us true disciples.
Question of the Week
What can I do this week to put myself selflessly at the service of others?
readings of the mass
LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, October 17th, 2021, Twenty-Nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, October 17th, 2021, Twenty-Nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
reflections
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 45
Joy through Service to Others
If you held a mirror up to your life, would it reflect God’s love and mercy? If you are struggling with this, try changing your atti- tude from “I want more” to “thank you God for everything you have given me, I have enough to share”. This change in perspective will bring you joy through service to others. Pray daily to become less self-centered and to become more God-centered.