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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time 18th October 2009
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SCRIPTURE READING: MK. 10:35-45 “…James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. ‘Master,’ they said to him, ‘we want you to do us a favor.’ He said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory’. You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized?’ They replied, ‘We can’. Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptized you shall be baptized, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’…Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be the first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”
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The 7 Steps: 1. Silence 2. Praise/Worship 3. Scripture Reading 4. Questions for Reflection 5. By Heart – Meditation 6. Intercession 7. Covenant Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, by your suffering, death and resurrection, you give us new life: a life filled with joy and purpose; a life only you can give it, for you are the source of life. Guide us on our pilgrimage of life, that following you faithfully as your disciples, we may witness boldly to the world, your love and truth. Enlighten our minds and hearts that your Word which we read and meditated may take roots in our lives. Help us not to fall into sin and if we do fall due to our human weakness, bring us back to you for you are the way, the truth and the life. We also pray for all our brothers and sisters, wherever they are, who are committed to this prayer, that their faith may be strengthened, their hope assured and their love fulfilled. In your name we humbly pray. Amen
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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Why did James and John approach Jesus? 2. How did they address Jesus? What is the significant of that title? 3. What did Jesus say in reply? What does this tell you about the relationship between Jesus and his disciples? 4. What do you think is the reason that James and John made their request to Jesus? 5. When Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane, he mentioned also ‘cup’. What does ‘cup’ mean there? Does it have the same meaning here? 6. Weren’t Jesus already baptized in the Jordan? If so, then what does ‘baptism’ here refer to? What was the answer of James and John to the question of Jesus? What does this tell you about their relationship with Jesus? 7. If it is not Jesus who grants the seats on his left and right hand, who is it? 8. When the other disciples heard this, what was their reaction? How did Jesus react to this? 9. According to Jesus, how does one become great? How does one become the first? 10. Why did the Son of Man come? How would Jesus give his life as a ransom for many? ____________________________________
BY HEART – MEDITATION ‘What is it you want me to do for you’: Instead of lording over the disciples and demanding that they bow down to his authority, Jesus offered to help them. He didn’t get upset. He didn’t turn them away. He didn’t get angry at them. He didn’t make any excuses. He simply made himself available to them. When someone comes to us and asks for a favor, do we answer them like Jesus answered his disciples?
‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized?’: The call to discipleship is a radical decision to follow Jesus. It is an invitation. It is a vocation. It is a mission. A disciple’s identity and purpose in life is always dependent on his master. Do we have such a relationship with Jesus, where we derive from Him our identity and purpose in life?
‘We can’: A true disciple is one who understands the cost of following Jesus and yet is willing to go ahead with it. James and John were willing to go all the way with Jesus. Even when the disciples stumbled at first when they deserted Jesus in his passion and death, but after the resurrection, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and became men of courage and conviction…determined to suffer and die for Jesus. What answer do we give to Jesus when he asks us if we are willing to suffer and die for him? ‘For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’: Jesus teaches by example. His teaching is never contradicted by his life, rather, it enforces and complements it. Before the disciples would suffer and die for him, Jesus would first suffer and die for them first. By his giving his life for many, Jesus has already set the standard for his would be followers. Anything less would not be enough. Anything less would make the discipleship less authentic. How authentic is our discipleship?
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“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile”
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INTERCESSION 1. For leaders of the Church, that they might follow closely in the footsteps of Jesus, their Master who came to serve and not to be served 2. For leaders of governments, that they might work for peace by upholding justice and promote a greater respect for the rights and dignity of every human person 3. For young people, that they might experience the unconditional love of God and become faithful witnesses of the gospel 4. For the sick and suffering, that they might be comforted and strengthened by the healing presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit 5. For those who are struggling with their faith, that the Lord will shed his light upon them to open the eyes of their hearts to believe that he is the way, the truth and the life 6. For all of us, that we might open our hearts to the invitation of Jesus to imitate him by uniting ourselves to him through a life of self denial and loyal service to others 7. For those who have died, that just as they were baptized together with Christ in his death, may they also share in his resurrection in the eternal joys and peace of heaven |
