Sunday Gospel Comment

 

Alberic Jacovone OSB

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YEAR B

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY - 19.10.03

Is 53,10-11; Hb 4,14-16; Mk 10,35-45

A Lesson We Never Fully Learn

They failed to understand. In today's reading, James & John claim first place in God¹s Kingdom and Jesus teaches that true greatness is found, not when we get and grab life for ourselves, but when we give and spend it for others. Since this truth is not obvious and we never learn it fully, we need to return to it again and again. Today, Mark challenges us to explore the logic hidden in the Christian expression: it¹s better to give than to receive. In the 3 verses, just before today¹s reading, Jesus repeatedly tells his disciples that, they are going to Jerusalem, and there he must be rejected by the elders, betrayed by his own and killed by the hated pagan authorities. He insists that this is the will of God for Him and for our salvation. There is no other way, in fact it is essential that they preach to all, this Good News. But while Jesus gave the apostles no choice but to accept God¹s way and make the necessary adaptations in their life, they failed to understand and did just the opposite. To prove this Mark immediately tells the story of today¹s Gospel, so we may understand the hidden wisdom of the cross: namely that Jesus, as Messiah and Christ, had to suffer, die and rise so we may have life in abundance; and -even in year 2003-, we follow his example, and like Him, we choose to be life-giving. It¹s never easy to understand The symbol of Christianity is the cross. It seems amazing that such a degrading instrument of torture has been turned into a sign of hope and courage. This overturning of value is expressed well, in the legend of Constantine, who saw the Sign of the Cross shining in the sky, and saw written under it: In this sign you shall win (In hoc signo vinces). The hidden wisdom of the cross is central to the Gospels and St. Paul goes as far as glorying in the Cross. The logic of the cross needs to be explored and unpacked. It¹s as if Mark says: sooner or later, like it or not, suffering and tragedy will hit and devastate your life. The cross is unavoidable: at times it¹s due to human stupidity or passion and at times it
just hits, and then things go dreadfully wrong: it throws us into shock and bewilderment: it destroys us, exposing our vulnerabilities. Spend your life so others may live The amazing thing is that the Cross has the potential to transform our life. When the cross hits, we feel warned and on guard, we try to stay shrewd and stoic. But in the end, we must turn things around and move on with life. At this point, faith and the example of Jesus on the cross provide a powerful incentive. It gives us the psychic maturity, not only to understand what's going on and learn from the discomfort of transition, but also to make the required changes that may be needed to move on in life. The cross is indeed a powerful school and training ground to see things from God¹s perspective. Then, perhaps for the first time, we realize that -to be fulfilled- we must spend our life, so others may have life too, and have it to the full. Then we see the worth of spending our life to rehabilitate, enrich and direct others to God. And Mark says: this is what Jesus did and taught: He came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many². Even for us, Christians of year 2003: the task of our life is to turn from our destructive, condemning attitudes and be like Jesus: caring, compassionate, conciliatory.

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