Reflection for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 20, 2024

by Sr Mary Ann Zimmer ND

Reading I: Is 53:10-11
Reading II: Heb 4:14-16
Gospel: Mk 10:35-45

Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Is 53:11

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Mk 10: 35-37

The first reading from Isaiah, describes the “Suffering Servant,” a mysterious figure who is never defined or explained but whose role, fate, and contribution raise deep questions that come to us all. What does suffering accomplish? How does this work? No explanation is given except the assertion that in the hands of God suffering can be redemptive. I don’t think that I am alone when I say that I do not grasp this intellectually. For myself, the best I can do is say clearly what suffering is not. Suffering is not a sign that God has become distant, is displeased, or has abandoned me. Beyond that I have had to yield to mystery.

Our Gospel today opens in a much less mysterious way. The apostles James and John display a very familiar and embarrassingly human attitude, “I want to be important and have the status to show it.” This I understand very well. Our human tendency to bolster our own importance by lording it over each other is deep indeed! Many years ago, when I was a novice, we used to joke about the risk of messing with certain people’s broom closets. One might not have a high office or important matters in charge, but she can still treat her responsibility for a particular broom closet as her little kingdom. We knew that it was, “Woe to anyone who moves or removes something from my broom closet!” When I read today’s gospel, I am mortified for James and John but I have to ask myself, “Do I have my own “broom closet” today that I cling to as a mark of my importance and power?”

The apostles were not subtle about their desire for importance. The good news is that Jesus did not give up on them nor does he give up on any of us in our human frailty. When Jesus is faced with their thirst for power, he brings his followers back to what really matters. If we give up the illusion that our human fulfillment rests on raising ourselves up at the expense of others, God can work in us as divine love did in Jesus. We can be enfolded into in the mysterious process by which the God makes redemption and fullness of life out of our weaknesses and frailty.