Readings: Is. 53:10-11; Heb. 4:14-16; Mk. 10:35-45
Love conquers all
things!
The first reading concerns the suffering servant who took the people’s sins upon himself. St. Paul says of Christ, “For our sake, God made him to be sin, and who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21). “Christ died to gather into one the dispersed children of God.” (Jn. 11:52). Christ is the suffering servant who came not to condemn the world but so that the world might be saved through him. He did not conquer the world by might, power, or authority but by serving others with love. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Napoleon once said: “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love, and millions of men would die for him at this hour. He has won the hearts of men, a task a conqueror cannot do.” Love conquers all things!
Christ’s love for us was not without pain, suffering, and death. “The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him.” (Is. 53:10). Chastisement, punishment, and suffering are part of life. No one enjoys suffering and pain. Christ cried out to his Father on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1-2). The purpose of suffering is always discovered at the end. It was after his crucifixion that Christ enjoyed his resurrection. Mark Link reminds us, “The crucifixion is a dramatic sign of Jesus’ love for us.” It is in suffering that we gain eternal life. As humans, we aspire to a life of greatness while doing everything we can to avoid suffering. But Christ’s suffering shows us that there is hope and transformation even in the darkest moments.
In the gospel, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, are demanding high positions in the kingdom of God. “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask of you for us. Grant that in your glory, we may sit at your right hand and the other at your left.” What would you call these two brothers? Selfish, inconsiderate, ambitious, and egocentric? And you would be correct, but are we different from them? There is something of James and John in all of us. We do not always consider what others think or how they feel so long as we satisfy our ego. We want to lead the parade, be in charge, and give instructions to others. Though we don’t always like to serve, we don’t mind being served. As I have said before, authority in the church means service. We must be available to serve others because we are called to be servant leaders. This struggle with ego is a universal human experience, and it’s important to recognize it in ourselves and others.
Christ exhorted them to be different in
answer to James and John and, indeed, to the apostles. “You know, among
the pagans, their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make
their authority felt; this is not to happen among you. 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 and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk.
10:43-45). As disciples of Jesus, we must follow Christ in his love for all
God’s children and shun the ways of the world. We must love and serve even the
unapproachable managers, the angry teachers, the authoritarian principals,
and the power-hungry politicians. Let us learn the true meaning of power
and authority - to serve in love and charity.
The followers of Christ are called to
avoid the disordered path to greatness. Christ invited the brothers to think of
greatness in terms of suffering. “Can you drink the cup that I drink or
be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Christ referred
them to his imminent death. If they want to be leaders, they must be prepared
to suffer martyrdom. The reward of greatness is given by God alone, and the
disciples must work hard to deserve it. The James and John in us push us to be
lords and kings, while Jesus calls us to be servant leaders. We pray that we
may not shy away from suffering that comes from God in our service of love. “For
the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights”
(Prov. 3:11-12). Let us remember our call to be servant leaders, and let it
empower and motivate us in our daily lives.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
From the Pastor’s Desk
“Go and Invite
Everyone to the Banquet.”
Today is World Mission Sunday, a yearly commemoration that underscores the vital role of missionary organizations and mission-oriented individuals in sharing the Good News of God’s kingdom. Our missionary mandate calls us to cooperate with God to make his kingdom more visible in our world today. We remember and support the work of the mission worldwide, enshrined in the Code of Canon Law that supports the Church’s outreach in over 1,150 mission territories. The theme of this year’s celebration, chosen by Pope Francis, is: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” inspired by the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:9. This theme calls us to reach out and welcome all to the feast of God’s love, echoing the inclusivity and urgency of the king’s invitation. Our mission is to reflect this divine hospitality, bringing joy, compassion, and hope to everyone we encounter, especially in territories where the Gospel has not yet been received, has been only recently embraced, or is courageously upheld in the face of persecution.
A Catholic can assist the missionary effort in three ways, and missionaries constantly remind us of them. This is within everyone’s capacity.
Prayer is a powerful tool in supporting missionary work. We pray that God may grant the missions His merciful aid, knowing that this kind of prayer cannot fail, especially in this cause. For no cause is dearer or more pleasing to God than this one. Just as Moses implored God’s aid for his people while they fought their battle with Amalek, we, too, must support the teachers of the Gospel in the Lord’s vineyard with our prayers. It is our duty as the faithful to follow the example of Moses and grant them the support of our prayers.
Fostering vocations is a crucial aspect of supporting missionary work. As Jesus reminds us, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). This is not a task to be delayed or taken lightly. It is a responsibility that we all share, and we must pray for an increase of vocation in the Church with a sense of urgency and commitment. The mission is now, and we are all called to act.
Economic Help. Every Catholic must give to support mission work.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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