RBWords

     Jesus' words are directed to the apostles, our first bishops!  They are in response to two things: the request of Mom Zebedee on behalf of her two sons, James and John, for privileged places "in your kingdom," and the reaction of the other ten apostles when they hear about this "end run" on power and prestige.  In Middle Eastern society both in Jesus' time and now, the concept of "honor" is very strong.  A "kingdom" of the kind that James and John (and the other ten) would know of consisted of the characters Rome put in power in Palestine: Pilate and the Herods.  Those in favor with these potentates would have a visible place of honor and influence.  Jesus clearly rejects any such thing in his "kingdom."  Power means service, not the other way around.

     Much of the current problems affecting our beloved Church in our times can find their roots in distorted notions of power, whether it be in a Roman bureaucratic institution or a local parish.  Any challenge to entrenched power is met with hostility.  The first scripture today from Jeremiah illustrates that very well.  Pope Francis has been trying to move centralized power in Rome back down to the more local diocesan levels in what he calls "synodality."  Diocesan bishops would be wise to imitate his example.  Jesus' words are a manifesto to all leadership at whatever level.  In Lent, those words could be a challenge to each of us insofar as we have any power to do anything.  How do we use it?  Are titles important to us?  Is prestige?  Do we truly hold our religious and political powers to account like Jeremiah did?  Lord Acton's words to an English Catholic bishop in the late 19th century still hold true: "Power tends to corrupt.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely."  Getting rid of corruption is one of the main tasks of Lent.  AMEN