27Th MAY. WEDNESDAY WEEK 8 ORDINARY TIME

Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop

“Augustine was an Italian Benedictine monks sent in 597 by Pope Gregory the great as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. He is considered the Apostle of England.”

READINGS

1.Sirach 36:1 , 4-5, 10-17( Faithful to His Promises, God will reveal his salvation to the ends of the earth)

2.Gospel: Mark 10:32-45( There will be no rank and privilege in God’s Kingdom)

MEDITATION AND REFLECTIONS ONTHE READINGS

From the first reading we hear Sirach insisting on respecting the dignity of others and respecting the gifts of others. Sirach being inspired by God he prays that the foreign nations too will fear God. Unlike other wisdom writers like Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes, he delights in the temple liturgy, he acknowledges the talents, and gifts of others and encourages them to go on with their gifts and talents.

The gospel describes the disciples dismay, on the road to Jerusalem as they hear about Jesus speaking his coming passion. In contrast with his exalted theology of hope and life, of self giving martyrdom  and total love for others, the ambition of sons of Zebedee, James, and John seems to be contrary to Jesus’ theology. The sons of Zebedee had their own motives, their mind were still blinded to Jesus teachings, instead they remained thinking at material level. The sons of Zebedee out of curiosity thought to outrank the other disciples for seeking privileges in God’s Kingdom. Jesus in responding to their question about who was to sit at his left and right, the answer from Jesus was all about the mission to serve and not to be served. “Whoever, aspires to greatness must serve the rest.”

In our life experiences and faith journey, the question posed to Jesus by the sons of Zebedee is not far away from our own context. Here between Jesus and Sons of Zebedee we have got two cases. The first case is the sons of Zebedee showing their interest in self promotion, while the second case is Jesus showing his interest in self-giving love. It is my experience that in our communities we have type of faithful Christians who prefer the first case, that is self promotion, such people are always looking a place for glorification, and respect. On the other hand we have also the type of Christian’s faithful who belong to the second case that is to live the virtue of self giving love. At the heart of becoming the disciples of Jesus we are all obliged to be the servants of others, and we must accept the cross. James and John and us all are invited to follow the one who did not come to be served but to serve. It is the call to each one of us that as Jesus empted himself for others service, also we are invited to empty ourselves for others.