“FIRST IMPRESSIONS”

29th SUNDAY (B)
October 20, 2024

Isaiah 53: 10-11; Psalm 33;
Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45

by Jude Siciliano, OP

Dear Preachers:

I have lost my taste for war movies, or movies depicting any kind of violence. When we were kids, we never missed the latest war film. “Sergeant York,” “Run Silent, Run Deep, and“Stalag 17.” I don’t mean to sound ancient. More recent films include, “War Horse,“ “Napoleon,” ‘Da 5 Bloods,” etc., Besides the vivid depictions of conflict, what often moved us kids was a scene of personal sacrifice. For example, a soldier who throws himself on a live grenade to save others from the blast, but dies in the effort.

But this is not about movies. What moves people to make personal sacrifices, with no material reward, for the sake of others? Pondering that mystery will help us enter today’s scriptures.

The reading from Isaiah opens with a harsh statement. “The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.“ It sounds like what some people conclude when catastrophe befalls them. “Why is God punishing me?“ “God is testing my faith.“ Do we really need a God who presses down on us to test us? What’s even worse: do we need a God who is “pleased“ to inflict pain on us? Who would want to serve such a God?

Today’s text from Isaiah is taken from the fourth “Servant Song.” These“songs” present an innocent servant who willingly suffers to do God’s will; not in weak resignation, but as a freely chosen way to break the power of evil over humankind. Isaiah tells of a servant who takes on the consequences of sin to set others free. The servant is not defeated by death, but his suffering shall “justify many.”

Early Christian writers saw in Isaiah‘s humble self-sacrificing servant, a clear portrait of Jesus and his example of humble service, forgiveness and death for the well-being of others. And more. As today’s gospel tells us, we disciples who follow Jesus must be ready to pay the price of the discipleship for the sake of others. The cost is great and difficult, as we join in our “Responsorial Psalm” praying, “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”

The Letter to the Hebrews takes up Isaiah’s message. Jesus is presented as our “high priest,” who made a once-for all sacrifice on our behalf. In our gospel, James and John ask, “Grant that in your glory, we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Hebrews reverses that narrative. Jesus, “who has passed through the heavens“ has made a self-sacrifice for us. Thus, in reverse of James and John’s request, by becoming one of us, Jesus has sat with us, on our right and left. As a result, he is able “to sympathize with our weakness.” For the Jews, whom the Letter to the Hebrews addresses, God was completely separate from our human experience; and completely other. Hebrews states that Jesus breached the separation and became one with humankind, even to the point of suffering and dying for us.

We are quickly approaching election day here in America. The national and local candidates have been spelling out their agendas and how, they say, they are best qualified to see them to fulfillment. The disciples, James and John, sound a lot like modern politicians seeking high office. They tell Jesus that when he comes into glory, they want seats in high places, at his right and left side.

The disciples were children of their age. They anticipated that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, he would assume messianic reign and would raise Israel to world prominence. But that was not what Jesus wanted as the conclusion of his public ministry. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus has had to clarify his servant role to his disciples. If they wanted to follow him, they must accept the suffering aspect of his mission. They envision drinking the cup of success (Ps 23:5; 116:13), rather than the cup of suffering Isaiah described. How would they receive glory and honor? By following Christ through suffering and death.

Our history as God’ people is filled with stories of those who offered their lives, accepting suffering to follow Jesus’ way. We call these models of faith “saints”; some officially named so by an arduous process of ecclesiastical investigation. But these are just a few of the countless disciples who have taken Jesus’ words to heart and acted on them. The preacher and those in the pew, may call other exemplary disciples to mind and offer thanks for the examples they are for us. They have fulfilled Jesus’ words, “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be slave of all.”

Today, for example, I call to mind lay missionary Jean Donovan, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford and Maura Clarke. 40 years ago, they were martyred during El Salvador’s civil war that caused widespread bloodshed, especially among poor and rural Catholic communities. Father Manuel Acosta spoke of the women “They left their culture, they left their comfort, and they came here to live the daily life of the poor.”

Isn’t that what Jesus meant about drinking his cup and being baptized with the baptism he was to endure? (For a fuller narrative about the martyred women go to: maryknollmagazine.org)

Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.cfm