Mark 15: Sacrifice
Sunday, August 18, 2019
This past Wednesday we celebrated the feast of Saint James, the brother of John the Beloved Apostle. James was executed by beheading as ordered by Herod sometime around the year 42; today he is the patron saint of Spain. James answered the call he heard. James took of the cup offered by Christ and became one of the early martyrs who chose to die in this life in order that he follow Christ both in this world and the next.
Today’s Gospel repeats the story we know so well of the mother of James and John asking Jesus to place her sons – the sons of Zebedee whom Jesus nicknamed Boanerges (The Sons of Thunder) – at his right and left once the kingdom about which he spoke had arrived. Her sons were present with Peter at the raising of Jarius’ daughter, at the transfiguration and in Gethsemane. They followed Jesus during his ministry and they certainly deserved special recognition in their mother’s eyes. I like Jesus’ reply: that these are the decisions best made by the Father.
This message from the Gospel is what reminds me that when things are not going as I see best for most . . . I must remember that just as the Son of God defers to the Creator on matters such as these . . . so ought I.
Jesus suffered torture and crucifixion as an act of redemptive, salvific love. If we wish to take up this same cup, we must be willing to enter into the sacrifice. We do this best when we trust God, trust Jesus, trust the Holy Spirit. Our strength and our true power as co-redeemers with Christ lie in our trust . . . trust that our own suffering has value . . . trust that our own worth is seen by God and will be seen by all . . . trust that we are delivered through and with and in Christ.
From MAGNIFICAT earlier this week: Let us pray in the name of all who are suffering in our day the pain of the cross: Turn your ear to us; hear our words!
Lord, you are the Justice of God, but you were condemned as a criminal: strengthen in forgiveness those who are unjustly condemned. Turn your ear to us; hear our words!
Lord, you are the truth of God: deliver from harm all those who are threatened by lies. Turn your ear to us; hear our words!
Lord, you are the love of God made visible: save all those who are menaced by hatred, cruelty, and abuse. Turn your ear to us; hear our words!
James, John, Mary Magdalene and the other apostles followed Jesus . . . trusting all that he had revealed to them. Christ is physically present to us in the people he sends to us and in The Word we read each day. Let us prepare to take up the Cup of Sacrifice with courage and joy in our hearts.
Written on July 25, 2008 on posted today as a Favorite.
Image from: http://thetentofthiskingdom.blogspot.com/2007/07/june-25-st-james-apostle.html
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. July (2008): 129-130. Print.
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