Wednesday, 8th week of the ordinary time
HIS STANDARD
We may go on, however, to
say that God is not on the gold standard. His standard for measuring our worth
is something much more precious than gold. St. Peter writes,
"Beloved: Realize that you were ransomed from your futile conduct,
handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but
with the precious Blood of Christ" (1 Pt. 1:18-19).
In today's Gospel, Jesus
made a prediction of His death. He did so because He knew that in the Father's
plan the shedding of His blood on the Cross would be the price of our salvation.
Many spiritual writers have observed that Jesus would have died even if only one
person had stood in need of salvation. That observation is valid. Even though
God saves us and makes us a Christian people by forming us into a single, loving
soul - the Church - He does not look upon us as a nebulous crowd of humanity. He
knows and loves each one of us as an individual. We can rightly say that what
God does for all, He does for each person in particular.
Sts. James and John, as it
was pointed out in the Gospel, were concerned about their place in God's
heavenly Kingdom. They wanted special treatment. As I was reflecting on these
readings it took me back a few years to when I was starting in the corporate
world of business. It is a fast-paced life, moving up the ladder, not letting
anyone get in the way even if it hurts the person next to you. I gave them all I
had and I wanted to be noticed for my efforts. I wanted to have the highest pay
and be in the position next to the President of the company - a Vice President.
Well, I did move up the ladder but I didn't become the Vice President; instead,
I became the Regional Manager.
The pay was great and it
was a top position but there was also a price to pay. I traveled for several
years. I would leave home on Mondays and return on Fridays. I missed many of my
children's activities in school and sports. I did not have the time with my wife
to plan our life and be a part of our home. It felt like I was on a weekend trip
to be with them; my home became a vacation getaway. Success was what I desired
and, yes, I wanted to be the right-hand person of the President just like James
and John wanted to be the in the top position with Jesus in heaven. "Grant that
in Your glory we may sit one at Your right and the other at Your left" (Mk.
10:37). They were totally absorbed in their own self-interest; completely
unresponsive to the whole meaning of Jesus and His ministry, just as I wanted
the prominent position in the corporate structure. But I thank God that He
helped me to see what my foremost priorities in life needed to be and
receptively look to Him for the answers. This generated more time with my family
and I ceased looking at what was important for me and began to be aware of the
needs of the people around me.
Jesus, with gentleness and
understanding, used the incident with James and John to teach a lesson. "Whoever
wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all" (Mk. 10:44). Before we
condemn others for their obtrusiveness, let us examine how often our lives go by
untouched by Jesus' loving self as we seek status, self-comfort, and avoid
suffering in our lives.
Our challenge today is to
rejoice in the fact that we are precious in the eyes of God, that our worth has
been measured by His standard - the blood of His divine Son.
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Deacon John Ruscheinsky