29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Is 53:10-11
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Heb 4:14-16
Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, with the "Sunday Soundbite" for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I've worked in Church communications for many years. Over that time I've met many public relations professionals—talented people who work hard to put out the positive stories about their companies or organizations.Most are devoted to the truth, and deal with negative news honestly and directly. But I suspect some of them might have urged Mark, the author of today's Gospel, to re-consider his portrayal of the disciples!

Mark doesn't paint a very positive portrait. Throughout his Gospel, the disciples just don't get it! They misunderstand Jesus' message, engage in behavior contrary to his proclamation of the Kingdom, and abandon him at the end.

Today's passage is a good example, as James and John vie for the top jobs in the hierarchy—right next to the Lord himself. Once more, Jesus must make an example of such behavior, promising that these enterprising brothers will indeed share his lot. But through sharing the cup of suffering. His only wish is that they would choose that outcome through self-giving service.

In a way, I’m glad no one "cleaned up" Mark's portrait of the disciples. It gives me some comfort to hear how they stumbled toward the Kingdom, when I consider my own failings! Their humanness gives us hope that God will work in our lives and will patiently remind us, as Jesus does today, that true greatness comes through serving others.

Scripture:

•…the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. (Isaiah 53:10)

•…through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, (Isaiah 53:11)

•Our soul waits for the LORD (Psalm 33:20)

•For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

•whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; (Mark 10:42)

Reflection:

•How do you as parish serve the community around you?

•How do you reflect Christian values in your life regardless of the cost?

•How are you a servant not to those who look or think like you but to all?

•How do you model Christian values that are in conflict with secular values?

The Church’s mission, in the perspective of this theology (church as servant), is not primarily to gain new recruits for its own ranks, but rather to be of help to all men, wherever they are. The special competence of the Church is to keep alive the hope and aspiration of men for the Kingdom of God and its values. In the light of this hope the Church is able to discern the signs of the times and to offer guidance and prophetic criticism. In this way the church promotes the mutual reconciliation of men and initiates them in various ways into the Kingdom of God.