Sunday Reflections

Last Sunday Jesus asked James and John a question: “What do you wish me to do for you?”  In response, they asked for seats at his right and his left when he comes in glory.  Jesus had just finished telling the disciples that he was to go to Jerusalem where he would suffer and die before rising on the third day.  In response to news of Jesus’ impending death, James and John ask for seats of glory.  (It is worth pointing out that the other ten disciples are no better.  The gospel tells us that “they became indignant at James and John,” for they wanted these seats them

In today’s Gospel, the sons of Zebedee didn’t know what they were asking in wanting to sit at Jesus’ right and left in the Kingdom. They were asking for privileges and honors. Once again, the disciples seem to be selective in what they hear Jesus say. They want to share Jesus’ glory, but do not appear to understand that his glory will be preceded by his suffering. Jesus notes their lack of understanding and predicts the suffering they will endure for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus says that the honor they seek is not his to give.

It is interesting that in the Gospel, the rich young man seems to have things in order concerning his relationships with others. He seems to be keeping the last seven commandments well.  But, he makes no mention of his following the first three commandments that we usually understand to be connected with our relationship with God.  Jesus understands this and realizes that this young man, who is rich, has put others things before his relationship with God. This is why Jesus tells him that he must leave all behind.

Jesus calls our attention, and those of his disciples at the same, to the children in their midst.  Children, in the time and place of Jesus, were not ‘people’ with ‘rights’, but looked upon as possessions, and very much in the sense of being ‘seen and not heard’.  What is the quality of these children that Jesus was extolling?  What did he want to teach his disciples by these surprising words and gestures in relation to (unimportant) children?  The outstanding quality for me is that a child realizes that they are dependent.

Both the first reading from the Book of Numbers and the Gospel passage from Mark indicate that “those who are not against us, are for us.” A young man reports to Moses that Eldad and Medad are prophesying despite the fact that they had not been gathered with the 70 elders to receive some of the “spirit that was upon Moses.” Joshua (who had been with Moses from his youth) urges Moses to stop them. Similarly, James and John (who are, with Peter, in Jesus’ inner circle) complain about someone who is casting out demons in Jesus’ name.

A wife was married to a man who was a full sized egotist. Every action was a sign of his egotism, always better than someone else. He was the greatest, at least in his own eyes. No matter what the wife would do, or would try to fix, he was # one. One day, at the circus, he decided to tell his wife that he was going to weigh himself. What a “diagnosis” he got! The machine said he was charming, intelligent, sexy, a magnetic personality. “Well,” said the egotist, “what do you think of that? It sees me as I am”.

Some of the words of our gospel confuse people.  How can Jesus, who is pro-life, tell people to lose their life?  Of course, Jesus is not talking about our physical, material life, but about our spiritual life.  Losing our life ‘for Christ’ means that we submit ourselves in love and humility to the will of God, and that we express this ‘loss of life’ each and every day through our sincere love and generous service.  Then we are “saving” our life – for eternal life!  Each one of us have our own journey, our own “cross”, and our own story of “following” Jesus.  W

Sometimes a mother will look at her new born child and she or he nurses and say: “I wish this moment would last forever that you would never change.”  However, the truth is if the mother were 89 years old still nursing the same infant for 65 years – she might feel quite different.  For some reason we all feel that if things could just stay the same things would be alright.  However, nothing could be different from the Christian central mystery.  Nothing in life is meant to stay the same.  Metanoia, transformation and conversion is the name of the game!  Those w

It was a Sunday afternoon! Only one parking spot was available on a one way street. My friend Fr. Nino was driving (Mario Andretti style) and he was confident he could get into the spot. So, he backed up perfectly, got into the space - and a whistle blew. A cop (in Bolivia) cited Fr. Nino for going in the wrong direction. Fr. Nino explained that the only way to park was to first back up (remembering it was a one way street) and then pull ahead. Right? “Wrong,” said the man, “You are going in the wrong direction, even though that was the only way to do it”.

Jesus continually revealed to His followers the truth that His heavenly Father wanted revealed.  Sometimes, His words were met with acceptance, and deeply touched the hearts of the listener(s), resulting often in a ‘change of course’ in their life.  However, other times His words were met with scorn and rejection, people turning away from Him, and leaving His company.  The disciples were constantly challenged to understand and believe.  Our First Reading also challenges us with the words, “whom do you wish to serve”.  Decisions, decisions!  To be a true followe