The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 27 May 2015
Meditation: Mark 10:32 They were on the road going up to Yerushalayim. Yeshua was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed — and those following were afraid. So again taking the Twelve along with him, he began telling them what was about to happen to him. 33 “We are now going up to Yerushalayim, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers. They will sentence him to death and turn him over to the Goyim, 34 who will jeer at him, spit on him, beat him and kill him; but after three days, he will rise.”[a]
35 Ya‘akov and Yochanan, the sons of Zavdai, came up to him and said, “Rabbi, we would like you to do us a favor.” 36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 They replied, “When you are in your glory, let us sit with you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 38 But Yeshua answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup that I am drinking? or be immersed with the immersion that I must undergo?” 39 They said to him, “We can.” Yeshua replied, “The cup that I am drinking, you will drink; and the immersion I am being immersed with, you will undergo. 40 But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the other ten heard about this, they became outraged at Ya‘akov and Yochanan. 42 But Yeshua called them to him and said to them, “You know that among the Goyim, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and their superiors become dictators. 43 But among you, it must not be like that! On the contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must be your servant; 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must become everyone’s slave! 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve — and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[Footnotes:
Mark 10:34 Isaiah 50:6, Hosea 6:2]
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop
You do not know what you are asking. (Mark 10:38)
The old woman was gravely ill. The family had gathered round the bedside where, ashen and comatose, she breathed shallowly and irregularly. Off to the side, a mother explained gently to her four-year-old daughter that grandma would probably die very soon. After a brief pause, the little girl raised a sober-looking face and asked, “Mom?” Taking a deep breath, the mother steeled herself to answer the difficult question that was sure to follow. “May I have the last popsicle?”
Today’s Gospel reading describes a similarly off-topic response to a grave situation. Jesus had just outlined what awaited him in Jerusalem: arrest, beating, humiliation, torture, and an excruciating death—followed by a resurrection three days later. Alarming, unnerving, and puzzling as his words should have seemed, James and John were focused on one thing: sitting beside Jesus one day in heaven. Everything else Jesus had said was just background noise to them. Or perhaps they simply could not comprehend Jesus’ words just yet.
Sometimes we just don’t get it. Or we are so focused on what we are thinking about that we fail to grasp what Jesus is saying to us. But see how Jesus responds to these two disciples. He shifts his attention to what they are focused on and begins teaching, encouraging, and moving forward from there. He gives no criticism, no condemnation, no sharp words. Because he loves them so much, he is patient as he seeks to propel them toward the truth and life that he has for them.
This is how he deals with you as well. Don’t worry about whether you understand everything. Don’t worry if there are days when you aren’t thinking along the same lines as the Lord. Trust that he will meet you wherever you are. He will lead, guide, and steer you in the direction he wants you to go. He loves you always and wants only that you embrace more of the life he has for you.
“Jesus, forgive me for the times you’ve offered me life, and all I want is a popsicle. Open my ears today to hear you and my heart to extend your grace to the people around me.” Amen!
Sirach 36:1 Have mercy upon us, O God[a] of all,[Footnotes:
Sirach 36:1 Heb: Gk O Master, the God]
4 As you have used us to show your holiness to them,
so use them to show your glory to us.
5 Then they will know,[a] as we have known,
that there is no God but you, O Lord.[Footnotes:
Sirach 36:5 Heb: Gk And let them know you]
10 Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time,[a]
and let people recount your mighty deeds.
11 Let survivors be consumed in the fiery wrath,
and may those who harm your people meet destruction.
12 Crush the heads of hostile rulers
who say, “There is no one but ourselves.”
13 Gather all the tribes of Jacob,[b]
16 and give them their inheritance, as at the beginning.
17 Have mercy, O Lord, on the people called by your name,
on Israel, whom you have named[c] your firstborn,[Footnotes:
Sirach 36:10 Other ancient authorities read remember your oath
Sirach 36:13 Owing to a dislocation in the Greek Mss of Sirach, the verse numbers 14 and 15 are not used in chapter 36, though no text is missing.
Sirach 36:17 Other ancient authorities read you have likened to]
Psalm 79:8 Don’t count past iniquities against us,
but let your compassion come quickly to meet us,
for we have been brought very low.
9 Help us, God of our salvation,
for the sake of the glory of your name.
Deliver us, forgive our sins,
for your name’s sake.
11 Let the groaning of the captives come before you;
by your great strength save those condemned to death.
13 Then we, your people and the flock in your pasture,
will give you thanks forever.
From generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.
____________________________
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