HEARING JESUS

HEARING JESUS

Imagine you are in Israel in the first century.  It’s Passover season in Jerusalem, but this year it is tinged with fear because Jesus has made some troublesome predictions.  Now is time that the mother of James and John, like any stage mother, decides to confront Jesus with her demands.  She may have misinterpreted Jesus’ mission, thinking he would become King of Jerusalem.  Be that as it may, she demanded that her sons be seated at his left and right when he came to power.   He replied, “You don’t know what you are asking.” He turned to the sons and said, “Can you drink this cup that I am going to drink?”  Of course, they replied that they could.  He told them that only the Father decides such things. Then, of course, the rest of the Apostles heard about this and were indignant.  (Matt 20:20-28)

Now, this is where I feel great sympathy for Jesus. I remember a day when my husband came home from work and said that the company was laying off men in his department. It felt like the bottom dropped out of everything.  In the next room, our boys were fighting loudly and near to exchanging blows over a baseball card!  I remember the absolute desolation I felt.  I know that’s how Jesus felt at that moment. 

But, because he is who he is, he takes an unexpected tact.  He says “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you.” 

It shall not be so among you. We should train ourselves to remember those words when we are tempted to judge, to criticize, to feel self-righteous or give in to hateful thoughts. It shall not be so among you. How easy it is to ignore those words and pretend they were only for the apostles.   It may be second only to Love Your Neighboras unheard. 

Jesus also said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”   We are expected to apply that to ourselves. We believe we are true followers of Christ and yet we fail to hear him.   Lent is the time to listen better and think more about what Jesus said and resolve to follow. 

May all our good works be anonymous and unrewarded.

Carol Lemelin OPA