Word to the Wise
Sunday, October 21, 2018 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Isa 53:10-11; Heb 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45]SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018 TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45] “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be our 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.” [Mark] Jesus has summoned all twelve of the apostles for a stern pep talk. This has all come about because James and John tried to gain an “in” on what they thought Jesus meant by the “kingdom” he was preaching. In a way, they can’t be blamed. Along with Peter, they had been the first disciples called and Jesus did bring them along with Peter to some significant events like the transfiguration. Furthermore, the only models of political leadership they had were people like Pilate and Herod. But, it is their attraction to power that gets them in trouble and Jesus has to tell all twelve that if they want to be powerful, they have to become powerless. At the moment, I am preaching a retreat for permanent deacons in a diocese in Florida. Needless to say, like all of us, they are concerned about the current situation in the church in regard to the sex abuse coverup crisis. I will have to address that subject because it is part of the context within which this retreat is taking place. The issue of power in the church will not go away when this current crisis subsides, which does not seem soon. As we can see from today’s gospel, the issue has been there from the beginning. Those of us who must fly on commercial airlines for a living are familiar with the flight attendant routine at the beginning of every flight. (We may even tune it out!). But there are some words about an emergency when cabin pressurization is lost and those little yellow cups with tubing fall down in front of you. Passengers are warned to put THEIR yellow cup on first BEFORE helping someone else, like a child, to put one on. I find this an apt image for this retreat and for all of us right now. We need to strengthen our own commitment so we can be in a position to help (or perhaps challenge) our church leadership in regard to the way in which power is exercised in the church. Jesus has told us what model he prefers. It appears that we still have a ways to go before we, from pope to pew person, learn how to use that model. AMEN
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