Contents
Introduction
In this Sunday Gospel reading, we continue to read from the section of the Gospel according to Mark’s Gospel that reports Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Last week we heard Jesus lament the particular challenges those with many possessions face in order to enter the Kingdom of God. This is contained in the conversation between Jesus and a certain man who enquired from him what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God. A requirement he was unable to fulfil, due to his inability to detach himself from his material possessions. Jesus keeps predicting his passion to the Twelve, who are amazed and afraid. In the mind of Mark, Jesus’ words to his closest disciples seem to be intended to prepare them for the Jerusalem events which they are about to experience.
The strange request
“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you? And they said to him, grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:35–37). This strange request was made the two sons of Zebedee, James and John. In Matthew, it was their mother who made this request to Jesus on behalf of his sons (cf. Matt 20:20–23). Jesus has just announced his passion to his disciples for the third time. And this is how they reacted – the struggle for glory. Each time Jesus announces his death, the disciples seem not to understand. When Jesus made this prediction the first time, Peter vehemently objected (cf. Mark 8:31–32). An objection that made Jesus to rebuke Peter, declaring him Satan and ordering him to get behind him.…..
Conclusion
In the Gospel of last Sunday, Jesus taught us that the kingdom of God is not about the accumulation of material wealth, titles, honours, and degrees. It is about sharing. Sharing our material possessions, our sufferings, our time, our talents, our good words and words of encouragement, our friendship, our spiritual riches, our smiles and our joy. In this Sunday, Jesus comes up with another teaching still on the kingdom of God and the use of authority. The kingdom of God is not about occupying positions of honour. It is not about being the greatest. Authority is not about control. It is about service. James and John (and the rest of the disciples) got it all wrong. They wanted authority. They wanted power. They wanted to sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus when the Kingdom of God was established on earth. They wanted to lord it over others. They wanted to be powerful and feared because of their power. They looked forward to being in authority. They misunderstood the teachings of Jesus about the kingdom of God. They thought.…
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE: SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I and II)!! The reflection for the 29th Sunday of the year (B) is found in vol. II pages 467–476. Happy reading!
For details on how to get it, contact the author on this link: https://m.me/uchennabiblia?fbclid=IwAR2yeg4a6sDGBp9QGkIvKj6FSADumMokN6lshdE0zuo-JHs6qOmlhA7jyHo or email me at: postmaster@uchennabiblia.com or simply send an SMS on 08116100926, and I will get back to you.