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What do you want me to do for you?

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of Eighth week in Ordinary Time, 2021

St Philip Neri, Priest

 

Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17

Ps 79

Mark 10:32-45

What do you want me to do for you?

 

Dear friends in Christ, there are times when people put you at a tight corner with their demands. They want something and they pester you till almost out of frustration you react either positively or negatively to the request.

 

In the Gospel of today, (Mark 10:32-45) Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem, his mind made up to face the way of the cross. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise.” One could only imagine what sorrow was in his heart. If we judge from the Gethsemane event, where his sweat became as thick as blood, one could understand that even from this time, Jesus was already in agony. The disciples however, did not show enough concern about what Jesus revealed to them. The struggle for power pre-occupied their minds. James and John, the sons of Zebedee then approached him with a request, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” The language of that request alone shows that there was an ulterior motive. When Jesus asked them what exactly it was they wanted, they said, “Grant us to sit one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” They made no request to suffer with Jesus. They wanted glory without the cross. Jesus questioned them further, knowing that they did not know the implications of their request, but they insisted; they will drink his cup and receive the baptism, but as for the position they wanted, Jesus made no commitment, but assured them that they will be allotted by the Father.

 

If Jesus had made a commitment to give them what they were asking without knowing the details, they would have put him in a tight corner. Has someone ever said to you, ‘I want you to do something for me and I need you to promise you will do it?’ Be careful at such. Herod made a promise to the daughter of Herodias and ended up, giving her the head of John the Baptist on a platter. We all need to be careful too in making promises. Make sure you have enough information before you make a promise. Your word is your bond. Do not promise what you cannot do and do not give a blanket promise. May the good Lord help us all. Amen.

 

Let us pray: Lord, we commit ourselves to you. Keep us safe from those who try to enchain us. Amen. 

+Remain blessed

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