Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 28th February 2024

​It’s only 28th February and we’re already halfway through the second week of Lent. Palm Sunday is less than four weeks’ away. I must confess that as I admire the abundance of Spring flowers and all kinds of blossom, I am looking forward to the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. I feel that, in my heart, it is already Easter and Christ has risen within me. Do you feel that way too?

 

​Today’s Gospel reading comes from Matthew, (Mt 20: 17-28), and is really about the humility of Jesus and how the disciples should follow his example. In fact, Jesus and the disciples, probably quite a large group of people, are making their way up to Jerusalem, when he takes the Twelve to one side and speaks with them. “Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.” This is a very clear warning to them of what will happen once they arrive in Jerusalem, almost the title of each moment of his Passion, after which on the third day he will rise again. What follows would seem to suggest that the Twelve weren’t even listening to what he was saying, but it’s their mother rather than James and John themselves who comes forward to make a request of Jesus. She must have been a force to be reckoned with: she demands a promise from Jesus. No humility here: she is looking out for her sons and trying to promote their chances, but seems unaware still of the rules of the Kingdom that Jesus has come to inaugurate.

 

​“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’” Jesus interrogates the sons, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” Without batting an eyelid, they reply, “We can.” They have no idea what he’s talking about, although he had spoken to them of his forthcoming Passion. They can only think of the glory beyond the suffering, but are left wanting as Jesus cannot fulfil their request. It is an impossible demand. The Father alone will decide who sits where at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

 

​There is indignation among the other Apostles, and rightly so, for they feel ashamed at what has happened. “When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Jesus has an important word of teaching for all twelve and for us, his disciples and apostles in the world today. Just as Jesus came to serve and not to be served, so that must be our attitude and duty in life. Just as he came to give his life for others, so we must be a living sacrifice in the service and for the good of others, even those we don’t know and those who might even hate us. Our only desire should be to do good and to serve, not to be great and certainly not to be first. In Christ we are all brothers and sisters. Our only glory is to be God the Father’s children, the brothers, sisters and friends of Jesus Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus is nothing if not radical, and we are his disciples.