“Manifesting His Life” by Beth DeCristofaro
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We
are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always
carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may
also be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)
Jesus said in reply, "You do not know
what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My chalice you will
indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." (Matthew 20:22-23)
Piety
Holy Apostle, walk with us on our
journey of faith. May your prayers obtain for us the wisdom to discern
God’s call and the strength to endure, so that we may grow in holiness and
rejoice in communion with all the saints. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
(from
a St. James Prayer)
Study
Perhaps the mother of James and John was not
in the crowd during Jesus’ parable of the Sower in yesterday’s Gospel. Or distracted by the group noise she missed
the part about God’s good word taking root and growing a harvest. Yet hitting up a revered leader for favors –
thrones in heaven for Pete’s sake! – was probably widespread then as now. In Mark’s Gospel (10:35-37), it is the sons
themselves that make this request of Jesus.
Then, of course, the other followers show their resentment and jealousy
and an uproar ensues. Sounds like a lot
of parish committees, corporate boardrooms and family gatherings today.
Jesus is blunt and clear. Following Jesus is
not going to be easy and the rewards are not seen by eyes that prefer to focus on
the bling of this world. But as he and Paul both affirm, our reward is sharing
in the surpassing power of God and kinship with Jesus. Eternally. This mystery
gives Paul the grace to disdain worldly gain and the impetus to share these
life-fulfilling insights despite the threat to himself.
In a sermon for the feast of Mary Magdalen,
Natalia Imperatori-Lee spoke about the Magdalen as someone who most likely
heard and understood deeply what parables such as the Sower were about and who
willingly chose the chalice Jesus would drink. Imperatori-Lee said “(Mary
Magdalen is) a beacon of hope having witnessed the worst of Jesus’ suffering. She is among the first to witness his triumph
and must share this victory with others.
Hope looks like that. Not merely
something we contain within ourselves although that’s important too. It’s not a little propeller which pushes us
forward to the next day although sometimes we need that. But hope, Gospel hope, is a combustion engine
that propels us outward to a community that needs it most.”[i]
Action
James and John did drink from the chalice of
Jesus’ sufferings and both remained in his love, despite their misguided ambitions. Am I manifesting the life of Jesus? By what do I find myself propelled and to what
goal?
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