Let Me Find My Purpose In Life

Let Me Find My Purpose In Life

Mk 10:35 – 45

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction

The Gospel today talks about some sort of power struggle among Jesus’ disciples. James and John approached the Lord asking him to let them sit at his side when his glory comes. The Lord gently corrects them and tells his disciples that anyone who wishes to be first must become a servant to all.

The Gospel

The brothers James and John must have quietly approached the Lord one fine day, making sure that no one of the other disciples heard what they were about to request from the Lord. They told Jesus: “ Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left. “ They were already securing for themselves prime slots at Jesus’ kingdom when his glory comes and wanted to make sure that Jesus accedes to their request.

 Jesus, must have been surprised by their request. His surprise becomes clear when he tells them quite bluntly: “ You do not know what you are asking. “ Jesus then went further, asking the two disciples some probing questions that might have clarified their intentions, saying: “ Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” The imagery of the cup and of baptism were symbols of Jesus’ suffering and death. These were symbols used by early Christianity as symbols of death and martyrdom.

The two then confidently said: “ We can.” Jesus then said to them: “ The cup that I drink, you will drink and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

There seems to be some irony here. James and John quickly affirmed that they can drink the cup that Jesus gives. But as we read through the passion narrative, they would be among those who quickly left Jesus and fled when Jesus was arrested at Gethsemani. Notwithstanding this, Jesus assured them that they would indeed partake of his suffering. They would indeed one day, follow their Master to the path of persecution and death. But there was one thing that Jesus could not guarantee: their request to sit at his side.

While it seems that both James and John did not understand fully what they were asking for, the other ten disciples clearly understood what the two were up to when they heard what had happened. The gospel tells us that the ten disciples became indignant of the brothers James and John.

 The two disciples wanted to be assured of some kind of glory and “raw power” that was clearly distinct from the rest of them. They wanted some prestige and wanted to bask alongside Jesus’ own glory as they dreamed of shining more brightly than the rest when the time came.

Seeing the brewing hostility between the brothers James and John, and the rest of the disciples, Jesus summons them and begins to teach them about greatness, saying: “ You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their 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 your 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. “

Reflection

Is it really possible to thirst for power even in the face of the Lord? Could we really unashamedly request from the Lord something that would advance our personal and selfish interests? Apparently, in this gospel, this is exactly what the two brothers did. This is the reason why Jesus tells them bluntly: “ You do not know what you’re asking for.”

Jesus, having sensed the hidden motives of the two brothers, refocuses their desire for greatness and power to a different kind of desire; a desire to drink his cup and to receive his baptism. Only with the readiness and desire to sacrifice oneself can greatness be understood by anyone who wants to follow Jesus.

As for power, Jesus points to us how the high and mighty exercise power; how they “lord it” over their subjects and make their authority felt. Jesus tells us that “ it shall not be so among you.” This common behavioral pattern of power that we see in society at large should never serve as the template for leading others.

There is, however, a definite template for a follower of Christ who desires greatness and power; this template reads: “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant: whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”

The story above tells us that when we seek and desire glory and power, we run the risk of not knowing what we want. We end up chasing illusions of greatness and power that are mere figments of our imagination. But when we are willing to drink the cup and receive the baptism that the Lord gives, we get to know our purpose in life.

When we can say to our families and loved ones: “ For you I live, for you I struggle, for you I am willing to give my life;” then, perhaps, we have indeed found purpose in life; and like Jesus, we too have taken up the cup that has been given to us to drink.

Just like the Lord whose goal and purpose in life was to serve and give his life as a ransom for many, those of us who desire greatness and power will soon discover that greatness lies in becoming a servant for others and that power lies in the humble submission of oneself for the welfare of many. In the end, we find our purpose in life by serving others and thinking of their welfare – just like Jesus did.

Prayer

Jesus, I have always wanted to be recognized because it feels great to be recognized. But I end up focusing too much on myself. Let me find my purpose in life by taking care of others, much in the same way that you found your purpose in life by serving us and taking care of us all. Amen.

 “ For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus himself who gave himself as a ransom for all.” – 1 Timothy 2: 6

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