Homily- Sunday 20 October 2024 – XXIX Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)- Rev. Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB

Sunday 20 October 2024 – XXIX Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mass Readings: Is 53:10-11   Ps 33   Heb 4:14-16   Mk 10:35-45

Key Verse to Meditate: "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." (Mk 10:37).

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

The Liturgy of the Word on this Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to embrace the true essence of discipleship. We are called to follow Jesus by adopting a mindset of humble service, rooted in love, rather than seeking positions of power and dominance over others. Today's readings speak to us about service, particularly the kind of service exemplified by Jesus, the Suffering Servant of Yahweh. The early disciples' expectations of greatness starkly contrasted with the mission of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve (Mk 10:45). In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples that the criteria for greatness in the Kingdom of God are the opposite of those in the world.

The First Reading: Jesus, the Servant Messiah

The first reading comes from the second part of the Book of Isaiah, known as Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40-55), written during the Babylonian exile around 587 BCE. Today's passage is from the Fourth Servant Song (Is 52:13-53:12), which portrays the suffering and death of God's servant, often referred to as the "Suffering Servant." This passage describes the servant's endurance of immense suffering, leading to his death, and reflects on the meaning and significance of that suffering. The servant’s patience in bearing suffering, even unto death, is echoed in the final verse of today's Gospel.

Jesus is presented as the Messiah who serves others and willingly sacrifices His life for the salvation of the world (Mk 10:43-45). This reflects the plan of God for Jesus, as prophesied by Isaiah in today's first reading: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper” (Is 53:10). God regards the death of the Righteous One as a guilt offering, taking away the sins of many and securing salvation for all. This is the proclamation of Second Isaiah: “By His knowledge, the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (Is 53:11).

The Second Reading: Jesus, the Great High Priest

The Letter to the Hebrews presents Christ Jesus as the "High Priest." The author encourages believers to hold firm to this great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God (Heb 4:14; cf. Acts 8:37; Rom 1:4; 2 Cor 1:19). Jesus' servanthood has its origin in God, who sent Him to bear our sins. In doing so, He becomes the High Priest who passed through the heavens to reach us, as today’s reading states: “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God” (Heb 4:14).

The author further describes the unique characteristics of this High Priest: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). This profound truth is revealed by the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 2:17, where we learn that, in order to become a merciful and faithful High Priest, the Son of God took on the fullness of our human experience. He became like His brothers and sisters in every way, so that He might offer help and comfort to all who endure trials and temptations.

Though a detailed contrast between Christ and the Levitical priests appears later in Hebrews (7:7-10), this passage anticipates that discussion. In Hebrews 5:2, the author says, “He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness” (cf. Heb 7:28). The High Priest understands the intellectual and moral struggles that often hinder believers from fully doing God's will, for He Himself was tempted in every way, ‘yet remained without sin’ (Heb 4:15; cf. Heb 2:18; 5:7).

In the phrase 'yet remained without sin,' the author emphasizes Jesus' sinlessness, acknowledging that, unlike us, He never gave in to sin, even when confronted with temptation. While humans are vulnerable to temptation, leading to sin, Jesus, though tested, was untouched by sin. The phrase “yet without sin” does not imply that Jesus experienced every type of temptation humans face. However, we know from the Gospel of Matthew that He faced significant temptations in the desert (Mt 4:1-11), but He did not give in. He remained firm in His trust in God the Father.

Finally, the author invites believers to approach the throne of grace-the very throne of God-where Jesus, the High Priest, is exalted at the Father's right hand (Heb 4:16). There, we find mercy, grace, and help in times of need.

The Gospel Reading

Today's Gospel presents the request of James and John for places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom (Mk 10:35-40), followed by Jesus’ profound teaching on servant leadership and the radical nature of the Kingdom of God (Mk 10:41-45; cf. Mt 20:20-28). In this passage, it is James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who approach Jesus with a bold request for special favor. Earlier in the Gospel, the rich young man addressed Jesus as "Good Teacher" and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life (Mk 10:17). Now, James and John, simply calling Him "Teacher," ask to be granted the privilege of sitting one at His right hand and the other at His left in glory (Mk 10:35). These two brothers, along with Peter and Andrew, were among the first to be called by Jesus to follow Him (Mk 1:16-20; Mt 4:18-22; Lk 5:1-11). Perhaps because Jesus had promised Peter a place in His future kingdom, James and John felt it was their right to seek the most honored positions in that kingdom-positions of authority, power, and wealth.

However, their understanding of Jesus' mission was deeply flawed. They failed to grasp the true nature of His kingship, mistaking it for an earthly reign of power and glory. It is important to note that between last Sunday’s Gospel and today’s reading, the third prediction of Jesus' passion and death occurs (Mk 10:32-34), where Jesus speaks again of His impending suffering. James and John seem unaware that the kingdom Jesus speaks of is not of this world and is not built on power, wealth, or prestige, but on service and sacrifice. James and John, despite their time with Jesus, were still influenced by this worldly vision of greatness.

"Are You Able to Drink the Cup?"

In response to their request, Jesus asks them a poignant question: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?” (Mk 10:38). The phrase “drinking the cup” signifies sharing in someone’s destiny or mission, often involving suffering (cf. Is 51:17; Jer 49:12; Ps 16:5, 23:5). Jesus was essentially asking if they were ready to accept the suffering, sacrifice, and self-denial that His mission entailed, culminating in His death on the cross for the salvation of the world. James and John sought glory without realizing the cost involved—self-sacrifice and a life of service. Jesus makes it clear that such honor is not His to bestow but is reserved for those chosen by the Father (Mk 10:40-41).

God’s Idea of Greatness

According to Christ’s teaching, true greatness lies in service. In fact, the one who serves is the greatest of all. Jesus contrasts this with the worldly practice of authority, especially among Gentile rulers, who often wield power for personal gain. Their rulers-the Gentiles-exercised authority with tyranny, considering themselves great as they lorded over the people (Mk 10:42). For His followers, the standard is radically different: “But it is not so among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:43-45).

In this passage, the verb "to serve" (diakoneo) takes center stage, emphasizing that in the Kingdom of God, authority is exercised for the benefit of others. Greatness is found in humble service to all. Jesus models this servant leadership, turning the disciples’ argument about greatness on its head. In an earlier teaching, Jesus even places a child before them, a symbol of humility, saying, “If anyone wishes to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35). The Gospels consistently highlight that the path to true greatness involves becoming small, humble, and aligned with the needs of the least. Even in today’s world, there are many types of service. Yet, the core of Jesus' teaching remains the same : greatness is found in humility and in the willingness to serve others. This teaching calls us to align ourselves with the marginalized and the needy, not in a spirit of power, but in one of ministry and self-giving.

Simon Peter and Eternal Life

To fully grasp Christ's transformative teaching on leadership and service, we must first reflect on last Sunday’s Gospel reading. In last Sunday's Gospel, the rich young man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17). Jesus invited him to give up his wealth and follow Him, but the man left in sadness, unable to part with his possessions. Jesus then taught how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God, shocking the disciples with the image of a camel passing through the eye of a needle (Mk 10:25).

Peter, speaking on behalf of the disciples who had left everything behind, asked what they would receive in return. Jesus reassured them, promising that anyone who sacrifices for the Gospel will be rewarded a hundredfold, along with eternal life—though not without persecutions (Mk 10:29-30). True discipleship brings both blessings and challenges, as following Christ involves joy and sacrifice for the Kingdom of God.

The New Community -The Only Rule is to Serve

In response to the request of James and John, Jesus presents His apostles with a radical new vision of leadership and community. He proposes a social order that is not driven by power or ambition but by a single guiding rule: to serve. The apostles, disgruntled by the brothers' request for privileged positions, are reminded that they are called to be part of a community where greatness is measured by service, not dominance. Their mission is to give of themselves, even to the point of laying down their lives for their brothers and sisters, as Jesus would later do, drinking the cup of suffering to the last drop. In this new community, the image of a ruler who commands and exerts authority is replaced by the image of a servant who gives and sacrifices. The disciples must understand that their relationship to one another is not based on status or hierarchy but on their shared identity as children of the same heavenly Father. And, as brothers and sisters, their only task is to serve.

Jesus Himself is the ultimate model of this servanthood. As the Messiah, He became the "Son of Man," (cf. Dan 7:13-14) not to dominate but to be the servant of all. He gave all that He possessed-His life, His blood, and his very self-to save humanity. He emptied Himself completely for the salvation of the world. Therefore, those who follow Jesus must be prepared to walk the same path, to suffer and give their lives as a ransom for many, just as their Master and Lord did. This is the paradox of discipleship: the road to glory is paved with humility, sacrifice, and service.

Each is a Servant of All

What is striking here is that Jesus does not outright deny the request of James and John. Instead, He points out that the granting of such places in the Kingdom is not His to give but is the prerogative of the Father. This demonstrates Jesus' perfect union with the Father, His submission to the Father’s will, and His humility in acknowledging the Father’s authority. After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus would be seated at the right hand of the Father, a place of honour and glory. But the path to that glory involved suffering, sacrifice, and the ultimate act of servanthood-His death on the cross. For those seeking positions of honour in the Kingdom, Jesus teaches that true honour comes not from power or authority but from humility and service.

Points for Personal Reflections

The Liturgy of the Word this Sunday not only clarifies important aspects of greatness and discipleship but also highlights the essential themes of servanthood and humility. Jesus challenges the conventional understanding of power and authority, teaching that true greatness is found in serving others. Through His example, we are reminded that discipleship is not about seeking status or honour, but about embracing a life of humility, self-sacrifice, and service to all, especially the least among us.

The Desire for Power and Greatness

The ambitions of James and John reflect desires common to humanity: the drive for success, ambition, and the pursuit of recognition. It is not unusual to strive for the best positions and achievements. However, even the lives of Jesus’ disciples can be marred by competition and a desire for power, supported by a worldly philosophy that prizes strength, ambition, and success, often at the expense of others. As followers of Christ, it is possible to walk closely with Him for years and yet fail to understand His true teaching, simply because we do not want to embrace the humility and sacrifice He calls for.

Earthly Greatness vs. Greatness in the Kingdom of God

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges our understanding of greatness by turning worldly priorities upside down. In the Kingdom of God, the greatest is the one who is least, the one who serves rather than seeks to be served. Jesus, the Messianic King, exemplifies this by serving others and ultimately sacrificing Himself. The disciples, on the other hand, were seeking glory and honour without realizing that true greatness comes through suffering and servanthood.

As we reflect on this teaching, let us ask ourselves:

Do I serve, or do I prefer to be served?

Am I willing to lay down my life for the people of God, following Jesus' example of self-sacrifice?

Do I see others as equals and brothers and sisters to be served, or do I seek to lord over them?

Am I a disciple of the Jesus who bent down to wash the feet of His apostles, humbling Himself in service?

In this reflection, let us strive to embrace the call to servanthood, knowing that in the Kingdom of God, the path to true greatness is found in humility and service.

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