So much has been happening since I have been ordained that I haven't had time to write about it. The confirmations and blessings have been abundant - can a person feel too blessed? Saturday night, I celebrated my first mass in Vermont at St. Peters. Afterwords, we had a potluck supper at St. Dominick's in proctor. Sunday morning, for the 9:00am mass, Br. Ted, the guardian, asked me to say mass at St. Bridget's in West Rutland because the pastor was away in Poland. Since my mother was named Bridget, I felt honored to celebrate my first Sunday mass there. Little did I know it would be such a wonderful, spirited community. The cantor, Olivia is a very talented 26 year old. Listening to her sing was like listening to an angel. After communion, she sang an Irish blessing in tribute to my mother who died when I was a child - it moved me to tears. All I could think about was how fortunate I am to be able to serve the people of God as an ordained minister - unworthy as I am. The following is my homily from today.
The Gospel
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 others at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus 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."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "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."
In today’s scripture James and John come to Jesus with a request; they want the place of honor and status when they enter into glory with the Lord. Here, the two disciples show they have failed to understand the true meaning, and inevitable end of the journey to Jerusalem.
Notice Jesus does not roll his eyes, nor does he snap back with a, “who-do-you-think-you-are" comment. Instead, Jesus takes his role as servant seriously. He wants to know how he can help James and John even if what they are asking is rooted in ignorance, Jesus does not become upset like the others do. Instead, he tries to help them understand what they are requesting. Jesus asks them in return, ‘Are you prepared to suffer the kind of death that I am to suffer?' The answer is not a simple “yes” or “no” but a challenge: ‘Perhaps the Father will reserve the seats for you, if you willingly take up my cross, my cup, my baptism.” A baptism of suffering.
Suffering!
In the first reading, and in the gospel, it may sound like all God is interested in is our suffering. It is easy to miss interpret these readings, and think God is nothing more then a punishing God. Yet, suffering is unavoidable in this life. For those willing to speak the truth, it is almost guaranteed. Think about the last time you had to speak the truth to your children. How popular did that make you? Or when it becomes obvious a friend or family member has a drinking or drug problem. Rarely is the response, “Thank you for letting me know.”
As a culture we are inundated with messages and ad’s which tell us there is a easy way out of our suffering. All you need is this little purple pill! The simple side effects are: irritability, sleeplessness, cramps, bloating, and you may grow elephant ears, but not to worry - all you have to do is call your doctor who is patiently waiting to take your call.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel great or even wanting to be great. Jesus isn’t abolishing ambition. He is simply redefining it: for the ambition to rule, he substituted the ambition to serve. For the ambition to have things done for us, he substituted the ambition to do things for others. However, to be a servant requires certain amount of suffering. Why? Because when you serve others the “thank you’s” are rare, and the spotlight shins dim. Most times, people avoid it thinking, "If no one else is going to do it why should I?” Growing up in my house hold (before the invention of dishwashers) we had a practice I liked to call, “The Hope Soak.” The Hope Soak is when you soak the dishes in water and hope someone else washes them. Of course, this gets played out today by opening the dishwasher only to discover it’s filled with clean dishes, and then, slowly, closing it hoping someone else will unload it.
We must understand that if we are going to follow the Lord we must be serious about our desire to serve. So serious was Saint Thérèse, the Little Flower, about service that she once said, “picking up a pin for love could convert a soul.” However, in most cases, we tend to take on too much thinking we have to save the world. Because of that, we burn-out, mess up or just plan quite. The second reading in Hebrews reminds us that we do not have a savior unable to sympathize with our weakness.
No, we have a savior who has been tested in every way like we have - except in sin. The Lord is not a task master; not a Donald Trump type ready to say, “You’re fired.” Instead, we can, boldly, approach our God in order to receive mercy; to find grace and help when we feel we are at the end of our strength.
As I begin my priestly ministry here at St. Peter’s, and at the College of St. Joseph’s, I feel fortunate I am surrounded by so many wonderful examples of people eager to serve. I ask you to please keep me in your prayers so I can be your servant too. God bless!
