Walking with Jesus: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45

Who do I trust when the going gets rough? Who is the person who seems to be my confidant? Could I single out the qualities of these people or this person if they're the same? What makes them different ... completely trustworthy? Could it be the confidence they have in themselves and in me? Could it be their ability to sort through life’s difficulties in a thoughtful, non-hurried way? Do they have the quality to be a leader who is well-respected, honest and caring? Could it be their lives that have weathered many storms without being overcome, while still maintaining a positive and calm outlook on the present and future? In reviewing this list I would say, all of the above! The blessedness of these questions is that all of us have been in these situations and hopefully have found a wisdom figure who has brought us to the other side of our dilemmas. What are my qualities for this Wisdom Figure?

Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, author, teacher, and retreat and conference leader. She is a brilliant person who explains difficult Christian principles. She has written much about Wisdom Figures who have been given to humanity down through the ages ... who have sparkled an awareness of how much God is present to us. In The Wisdom Jesus, she maintains that Jesus is the greatest of all the Wisdom Figures. She asks, “Would it be easy to recognize Jesus? Would it make any difference for you if the resurrection hadn’t happened, if Jesus hadn’t risen from the dead? The disciples had no idea Jesus would do this … so what caused them to say ‘yes’ to Jesus?” These are questions we probably haven’t asked ourselves, yet ones we should ask. Today's readings give us some insight: Isaiah, from the last of the four Servant Songs, depicts the qualities of what many reason to be the Messiah; Paul’s letter to the Hebrews refers to Jesus as the Great High Priest, and Mark’s Gospel shows James and John struggling with Jesus’ future kingdom that they want to be part of, without understanding what that means.

(Four Servant Songs: Isaiah 42:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-7, Isaiah 50:4-1, and Isaiah 52:13- 53:12.)

The earlier verses offer a biographical sketch of the Servant’s life, moving from his humble and inconsequential beginnings to his death and burial. God reveals what the Servant has done for others, leading people to understand that the Servant is Israel itself. Being in exile, they've had time to sort out more about the Servant who has served God’s purpose, leading them to see that the Servant has taken on the sins of others ... and through his hardships, suffering and death has absorbed the guilt of the people. In today’s reading we see how the Servant is exalted by the standards of heaven, his death being not the end but the beginning of God’s plan.

Paul continues the theme by developing the point that Jesus, the Son of God, is the great high priest who has made atonement for our sins in order to bring us, His brothers and sisters, into heavenly glory. Since becoming human He has not detached from our sufferings and struggles. So we have no need to fear because He is a sympathetic and infinitely effective advocate for us.

In Mark, Jesus has already predicted His suffering, death and resurrection, and the disciples just can’t understand what this means. Today we focus on James and John’s desire for the prime positions (maybe Secretaries of State and Defense could be a parallel). The others are furious, probably because they are not the first to ask and they want places of honor too. As always, Jesus directs their attention to the right place: Discipleship is about serving others and about imitating Jesus. Glory and honor must be rooted in service. Jesus is talking about humility, spiritual poverty and exercise of authority. He is a model for them: Accept His way. How are we doing with this? Is it all about me or is it about God? Am I showing God’s love or how I can best advance myself in the eyes of others? Suffering teaches us we are not in control, only God is. Am I hearing the Last Supper mandate of Jesus in Luke 22:19: “Then He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is My body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me?’” Am I living this, with all of the demands it makes?

So I reflect on:

• A Wisdom Figure is a hero in so many ways. Am I torn between the temptation toward being proud and the drive toward being heroic?
• Where do I find myself sliding and where am I cultivating heroic virtue?

Sacred Space 2021 states:

“This lovely dialogue leads us deep into Jesus’ way of teaching. It starts with the sort of untamed desire that lies behind many of our prayers. Jesus leads James and John into the implications of what they are asking. He does not throw suffering at them but invites them to share His cup. Invite me too, Lord. I would prefer to serve with You than to sit on a throne.”