Posted on October 18, 2024 View all Gospel Reflection
Suffering, Hope and Glory
These three words summarize the readings for this Sunday. When Jesus talks to his disciples, he always seems to talk about how the leaders and people of Israel will condemn him and put him to death. In fact, today’s Gospel comes right after Jesus says to the Twelve “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over t the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” (Mk 10:33-34) That kind of talk was always disconcerting to the disciples. They envisioned that as the Messiah, Jesus would rise up to take power and restore the kingdom of David, expel the Romans, and bring the glory of Israel back to its heights. But Jesus never said anything like that. In fact, when the devil tempted him in the desert, he “showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, ‘All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.’” (Matt. 4:8-9) That would have been the easy route to bring back the earthly kingdom of Israel. But Jesus rejected Satan and forged ahead with his obedience to the Divine Plan for our salvation. That plan which would ultimately require his death on a cross.
But looking at the disciples today, it seems a bit shocking (perhaps even crass or self-absorbed) that the disciples heard Jesus’ words and then after their own discussions came up to him and said “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (Mk. 10:35) Who says that? Who says that especially after what Jesus had just told them. It is almost like the disciples were teenagers who didn’t hear anything you said, but then want you to do exactly what they want. The disciples didn’t even bring it up in such a way that maybe Jesus could do them this favor. No, they just wanted him to do it. When the ten heard this, they became indignant. Why? Not because these two were so strident and brash with what they asked from Jesus, but most likely because they were jealous of that request or annoyed that they didn’t ask it of Jesus first.
Jesus constantly reminded his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer and die for the sins of all humanity. It is for this reason that he became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus came to bring us hope. A hope that was only possible because he who was consubstantial with the Father was the only means that could repay for our original and personal sinfulness. As the Nicene Creed reminds us, Jesus suffered and died for our salvation so that we might be able to hope in the forgiveness of sins, look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. The Letter to the Hebrews underscores the hope that we should have when it says that we have a high priest “who has been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace…” (Heb. 4:16)
But all the suffering, and the hope is grounded in that promise that Jesus makes to his disciples and to each of us. “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;” (Mk 10:39) That cup is Jesus’ invitation to share in his passion, death and then ultimately the glorious resurrection to eternal life. It is that cup that we partake of in the Eucharist when we are most united to Our Lord this side of heaven. As we reflect on the Gospel message this week, let us unite our particular sufferings to those of Christ, may we ground our hope in the Risen Lord and may our glory be to be united to the glory of the Lord who made heaven and earth.