Father Rick Bolte's Homily

B:29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

2009-10-18

  
In today’s gospel, James and John offend our sensibilities by being so crass. We would not expect anyone to be so bold as to straight out ask to be number 1 and number two in any group, company, or organization. But then again we are hearing a story that has been reduced to its simplest form for retelling and no so interested in detail. Perhaps originally they were much more subtle. We would not be so offended should they be more round about in their approach.

Though we are offended by the crassness of the approach, the gospel is challenging the intention. For us the intention seems normal, almost expected. To aspire to greatness, to work to advance to the top, and to overtly seek promotion is for us quite normal. Once again Jesus’ teaching is for us quite countercultural. What we call normal is what Jesus speaks of as the way the gentiles act. "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.” We too seek the esteem which comes from being successful in our endeavors. We want others to feel our importance and authority.

To those who seek to follow him, Jesus says, “But it shall not be so among you.” Jesus introduces a whole new system for greatness. Compared to the normal way of judging people in his day and today, the ranking will practically be inverted as the “first shall be last and the last shall be first.” This is where we like to say, “Jesus didn’t really mean that.” or “This message just can’t be right because it doesn’t work in the ‘real’ world.”

Jesus’ message was hard to hear then as it is now. When we really listen to what Jesus says, we can begin to understand why he was crucified. Such ideas are often labeled as un-American, socialistic, or even Communistic. When our popes, bishops, and other clergy express these ideas; they are usually ignored or even actively opposed by “good, church-going Americans.”

Nonetheless there is a difference between a career and a vocation. A career is about how we earn a living, support ourselves and our families, and how we establish ourselves in the eyes of our peers. A vocation is a calling from God as we hear in today’s gospel, “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” A vocation is a calling to use what God has given you for the good of the entire family of God, the human family.

Though we may think of a vocation as something for the likes of priests or religious, in reality we all have a vocation. We are invited to follow Jesus who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Sometimes we need to challenge ourselves to hear what Jesus really says without assuming Jesus agrees with what we already think. To even hear this challenge is very difficult for us; to radically change to follow him is even harder. Let us repent, throwing ourselves on God’s mercy, and ask for what we need to actually follow where he leads us.