WE PAY SOME KIND OF PRICE
FOR GOOD THINGS
FOR GOOD THINGS
Do I want the top position where I work, and do I expect everyone to
jump at my command?
Almost everyone
enjoys a good meal! But if you're not a cook, it may be difficult for you to
appreciate all of the time and hard work that goes into preparing a really fine
dinner. It seems that it is necessary to pay some kind of price for all good
things, and apparently, that is what James and John, and their mother, had
forgotten about. In today's Gospel, the two brothers wanted a share in the
Kingdom and the glory of Jesus - the highest place of honor. Our Lord had to
remind them that there was a price to be paid. It was the price He Himself had
to pay for His glorification, namely, His passion and death. Jesus warned all
the Apostles that He had to go up to Jerusalem to suffer and die, and only then
would He be raised to glory and come to share in His Father's Kingdom.
I asked myself a
few questions this morning while I was reflecting on today's Scripture
readings: Would I, like James and John, want my mother to intercede for me so I
could get the place of honor? Would I want to be the one recognized by my pride
and power? Do I want the top position where I work, and do I expect everyone to
jump at my command?
It is not always an
easy thing to make sacrifices for the sake of others without expecting some
kind of recompense, but if we look for that kind of satisfaction, I am afraid
that we will not be very good disciples of Jesus Christ. The gift of oneself is
especially difficult when the people we may be helping manifest no gratitude at
all, but the worst possible situation, is to have them turn against you
completely. Jeremiah, the Prophet, was in such a situation. Those who were plotting
his death were the very ones for whom Jeremiah had prayed before the Lord.
In today's
Responsorial Psalm we acclaim, "Save me, O Lord, in Your kindness"
(Ps 31:17b). This is how great His love is for us! Jesus wants a relationship
with each of us, personally - to be in communion with Him - and He wants us to
share that relationship with those around us.
On several
occasions, Jesus likened His Kingdom to a great banquet. At Mass, we partake in
the Eucharistic Banquet, and anticipate the day when we will share in the
heavenly Banquet. With this spiritual meal, we are also reminded of the price
to be paid. We receive Communion and become sharers in the death and
resurrection of Jesus. Now, our identity should reflect that of Jesus' - total
dedication of oneself to God.
Can we indeed drink
of the cup of the Lord?