Ambition in the Service of Others
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have you noticed that when people talk about ambition, the word often carries a negative connotation? Sometimes people strive to reach personal goals that benefit only themselves to the detriment of other people.
In today's Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses the ambition of His disciples and turns a negative situation into a positive one.
Because James and John believed in the Kingship of Jesus, they wished to secure their place in the future Kingdom. Their ambition caused the other disciples to become quite indignant when they heard what James and John had asked for. Wouldn't we feel the same way?
Jesus, however, did not reprimand James and John. Instead, He revealed to them exactly what a positive force ambition could be. Jesus reminded them in no uncertain terms that if the disciples were in authority over others, they could not lord it over them. They (and we) are told:
"Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve..."
With these words, Jesus effectively tied ambition to the service of others and thus, showed the disciples what was to be expected of them as His followers.
Jesus also shows us that His own life was dedicated to others. We see that life described so beautifully in the Isaiah reading. Jesus is the "Suffering Servant" who "gives his life as an offering for sin." We know that Jesus lived His life in exactly that way. And more: "through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear."
Can we ever measure up to Jesus' life of service? Our consolation in trying to follow the path of service that Jesus embodied is to be found in the Letter to the Hebrews. There we learn that Jesus is like us in every way except He is without sin. He can sympathize with our weaknesses and He has been tested in the same ways that we have. We are encouraged by knowing this and that by serving others, we are acting in solidarity with Him... and following in His footsteps.
"May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you."
Have you noticed that when people talk about ambition, the word often carries a negative connotation? Sometimes people strive to reach personal goals that benefit only themselves to the detriment of other people.
In today's Gospel of Mark, Jesus addresses the ambition of His disciples and turns a negative situation into a positive one.
Because James and John believed in the Kingship of Jesus, they wished to secure their place in the future Kingdom. Their ambition caused the other disciples to become quite indignant when they heard what James and John had asked for. Wouldn't we feel the same way?
Jesus, however, did not reprimand James and John. Instead, He revealed to them exactly what a positive force ambition could be. Jesus reminded them in no uncertain terms that if the disciples were in authority over others, they could not lord it over them. They (and we) are told:
"Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve..."
With these words, Jesus effectively tied ambition to the service of others and thus, showed the disciples what was to be expected of them as His followers.
Jesus also shows us that His own life was dedicated to others. We see that life described so beautifully in the Isaiah reading. Jesus is the "Suffering Servant" who "gives his life as an offering for sin." We know that Jesus lived His life in exactly that way. And more: "through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear."
Can we ever measure up to Jesus' life of service? Our consolation in trying to follow the path of service that Jesus embodied is to be found in the Letter to the Hebrews. There we learn that Jesus is like us in every way except He is without sin. He can sympathize with our weaknesses and He has been tested in the same ways that we have. We are encouraged by knowing this and that by serving others, we are acting in solidarity with Him... and following in His footsteps.
"May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you."
Labels: ordinary time, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Monday, October 19, 2009
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