{"id":5187,"date":"2024-10-20T14:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-20T13:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5187"},"modified":"2024-10-22T11:13:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T10:13:51","slug":"commentary-on-the-29th-sunday-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-the-29th-sunday-b\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on the 29th Sunday (B) 20.10.2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

A    TEXT (Mk 10:35-45)
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Request for Special Status<\/strong>
\n35 And James and John, the sons of Zeb\u2019edee, came forward to him, and said to him, \u201cTeacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.\u201d 36 And he said to them, \u201cWhat do you want me to do for you?\u201d 37 And they said to him, \u201cGrant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.\u201d<\/span>
\nJesus\u2019 Baptism<\/strong>
\n38 But Jesus said to them, \u201cYou do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?\u201d 39 And they said to him, \u201cWe are able.\u201d
\nCup of Suffering<\/strong>
\nAnd Jesus said to them, \u201cThe cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.\u201d
\nReaction of Ten<\/strong>
\n41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.
\nService is Greatness<\/strong>
\n42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, \u201cYou know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
\nSon of Man Came to Serve<\/strong>
\n45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d<\/p>\n

B    EXPLANATION<\/strong>
\n
\n35 And James and John, the sons of Zeb\u2019edee, came forward to him, and said to him, \u201cTeacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.\u201d 36 And he said to them, \u201cWhat do you want me to do for you?\u201d 37 And they said to him, \u201cGrant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.\u201d
\n<\/strong> The third prediction of the passion precedes this present Reading. Each prediction is followed by an expression of misunderstanding and blindness about the mission of Jesus by those closest to him (Mk. 8: 33 where Peter is the one involved in misunderstanding; 9: 33\u201337 where the other disciples are the ones; this present text where James and John show their misunderstanding).
\n\u2018Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you\u2019\u201d \u2014 This is an extraordinary request. They ask Jesus to do whatsoever they ask! That is so unlike Jesus\u2019 way of praying. His prayer to his Father always was \u201cYour will be done, not mine; what you know is best, not what I want, is what I will do\u201d.
\n\u201c\u2018Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory\u2019\u201d \u2014 James and John ask for the seats of honour in the new kingdom. It is interesting that they refer to this kingdom as \u201cin your glory\u201d. There has been only one reference to Jesus coming \u201cin glory\u201d up to this point (Mk. 8: 36). Knowing how they misunderstood Jesus\u2019 references to his passion and death, it is difficult to believe that they had even a remote idea of what was meant by his \u201cglory\u201d. What they would have understood would have been that they had seen him at the transfiguration \u201cin glory\u201d but they did not understand the transfiguration until after the resurrection (Mk. 9: 2\u201310).<\/h4>\n

38 But Jesus said to them, \u201cYou do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?\u201d 39 And they said to him, \u201cWe are able.\u201d And Jesus said to them, \u201cThe cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.\u201d 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.<\/strong>
\n\u201cBut Jesus said to them, \u2018You do not know what you are asking\u2019\u201d \u2014 We understand that the two apostles did not know what they were asking. However we should not pass over the question as if it had no special relevance. All sayings in the Bible are intended not only for those present at the time and listening but for all who read the word of God. We might examine ourselves on why and how we ask favours from God.
\n\u201cAre you able to drink the cup that I drink\u2019\u201d \u2014 The cup to which Jesus refers is the \u2018cup of sorrows\u2019. He will mention it again in the Agony in the Garden when he will ask that it be taken from him, if that is his Father\u2019s will (Mk. 14: 36).
\n\u201cor to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?\u2019\u201d \u2014 The word \u2018to baptise\u2019 occurs three times in these few words. Literally the word means to immerse, overwhelm, be overcome. Jesus asks James and John if they can share in his passion and death into which he will be plunged. They requested a place in Jesus\u2019 glory. He tells them that this means sharing in the way to his glory which is the way of suffering and death.
\n\u201cAnd they said to him, \u2018We are able\u2019 \u2014 They were quick to say that they could suffer with Jesus. Yet they fled when he was arrested (Mk. 14: 50).
\n\u201cAnd Jesus said to them, \u2018The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized\u2019\u201d \u2014 John did enter the courtyard of the High Priest, stood at the foot of the cross and gave himself in service to God and people for the rest of his long life. James died a martyr in later years (Act 12: 2). As can be seen from the example of John, to drink the cup and be involved in Jesus\u2019 suffering and death does not necessarily mean actually dying as a martyr.
\n\u201cbut to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared\u2019\u201d \u2014 Until he attains his full glory at the resurrection, Jesus cannot grant the favours requested. Only God the Father can do so at this stage.
\nIt is ironic that the two who did sit at the right and left of Jesus \u201cin his glory\u201d, the glory of reigning on the cross, were two sinners, no doubt chosen for the honour by God.
\n\u201cAnd when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John\u201d \u2014 The \u201cten\u201d were offended that James and John had sought places above them. All \u201cTwelve\u201d were obsessed with acquiring the top positions in the political kingdom they expected to be inaugurated. They had not taken to heart the teaching of Jesus that \u201cIf anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all\u201d (Mk. 9: 35).
\n
\n42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, \u201cYou know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d <\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd Jesus called them to him\u201d \u2014 Yet another example of Jesus taking aside \u201cthe Twelve\u201d, that is \u201cthe ten\u201d (v. 41) plus James and John, for another personal and special instruction.
\n\u201c\u2018You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them\u2019\u201d \u2014 There is great irony in this statement. \u201cThose who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles\u201d implies that they are not rulers but tyrants who exercise their power with harshness and intimidation for their own personal benefits. The disciples were accustomed to seeing the Romans rule by the authority of force and severity.
\n\u201cBut it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all\u201d \u2014 It is by service that the Twelve are to exercise their authority (Mk. 9: 35). This is what will make them great.
\n\u201cYou must be the slave of all\u201d \u2014 By being \u201cthe slave of all\u201d a person expects no return, no reward, not even a sign of gratitude. A slave served everyone under his\/her master\u2019s instructions. A Christian serves everyone under God\u2019 instructions and so serves God in others. Jesus\u2019 instructions are to love which has self\u2013sacrifice as an essential ingredient.
\n\u201cFor the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Once again Jesus uses the title \u201cSon of man\u201d which means that he is divine yet humble and lowly, prepared to die in service for the salvation of the world.
\nThis last section of verse 45 is based on Isaiah 53: 10\u201312 which indicates that Jesus saw himself as the Suffering Servant of God, \u201cYet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.\u201d
\n\u201cto give his life as a ransom for many.\u2019\u201d \u2014 The understanding of the word \u201cransom\u201d is paying a price to free a slave, a prisoner or someone who had to pay off a large debt. The price that Jesus had to pay to ransom sinners (Mk. 2: 17) was his life. It is clear that his service was voluntary self\u2013sacrifice.<\/p>\n

C    APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jesus tells us so much about himself as the Suffering Servant in this passage. Mark describes three predictions by Jesus of his passion, death and resurrection. After each one some apostle or apostles indicated by what they said that they did not understand the very clear words of Jesus. Their minds were closed, their hearts hardened. They certainly did not want to understand because they had better plans and prospects for themselves. They lived in a political world and were influenced by that. After each prediction and misunderstanding Jesus gave an instruction on discipleship and what it meant to be a follower of his. Even these lessons went unheeded. That is why he had to make three predictions and three instructions.
\nThe third prediction, immediately before this passage, is the longest, most detailed and most self\u2013revelatory about Jesus. We learn that he knew even the details of what he would suffer in Jerusalem. He did not shirk or try to avoid them. He went ahead of the disciples eager to undertake what he was doing not for himself but for them and all mankind.
\nTo explain his actions Jesus described himself as a servant and slave. He was completely and entirely at the service of others. He made no demands or claims for himself.
\nThen he explained why he was offering his life as a ransom. The world had abandoned God and followed a path of sinful existence. The covenant was broken and God was no longer regarded as the God of mankind because mankind did not want him. Mankind had to be shown how God loved each and everyone. It was not to be a matter of Jesus offering his life and dying. He had to show that he would undertake the cruelest of punishments to prove his love. He would not spare himself in any way lest people might not fully understand the extent of his love. He did this with full knowledge beforehand of what price he had to pay to prove his love.
\nIn describing his sufferings Jesus likened them to drinking a cup of sorrow or being plunged or \u2018baptised\u2019 (a Greek word) in pain and agony. When the soldier pierced his side after his crucifixion, blood and water flowed forth. This has been described constantly in the writings of the Church Fathers, as references to baptism and Eucharist. When one is baptised one commits oneself to be one with Jesus and his purpose in life, namely to die to sin and live for God. That is the vocation of each disciple. Each follower of Jesus abhors sin and makes any sacrifice to avoid it. Each one places God\u2019s will before one\u2019s own.
\nWhen one attends Mass and receives \u201cthe cup\u201d, one partakes in the passion and death of Jesus. One becomes one with the glorious and resurrected Jesus who bears the signs of the passion in his body. One renews the commitment made in baptism to live the life and the death of the risen Lord.
\nJesus spelt this out in today\u2019s passage. He told James and John that suffering with Jesus, sharing the same cup and baptism, is necessary to be a disciple. As his disciples we follow him not in his glory but in his service, as he leads us on his way which leads to heaven through Calvary. It is well to remember that if we follow him on his way, we must follow him all the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A    TEXT (Mk 10:35-45) Request for Special Status 35 And James and John, the sons of Zeb\u2019edee, came forward to him, and said to him, \u201cTeacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.\u201d 36 And he said to them, \u201cWhat do you want me to do for you?\u201d 37 And<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2958,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5187"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8301,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5187\/revisions\/8301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}