- The principal of a Catholic high school was surprised by the phone call. It came from an inmate at a nearby prison who had made a considerable fortune by illegal means. Now the man was offering to make a significant donation to the school.
In return for his donation, the inmate wanted the high school to make it possible for his adult son, a high school dropout, to receive a high school diploma. As the principal inquired further, it became clear that the inmate did not want his son to have to do anything to earn the diploma. He simply wanted his son to be sent a diploma.
The principal was flabbergasted. Why, she asked the inmate, did he care so much that his son, now in business for himself, should receive his diploma?
"Because," the inmate replied, "education is important!" (1)
James and John had answered Jesus' call to follow him while they were in their fishing boat with their father. As fishermen, they were probably considered middle-class to well-to-do citizens. They obviously were not stupid; they knew that in the world, you made your way by connections. They believed Jesus would ultimately overcome his enemies, most probably setting up a Jewish kingdom that would do away with the Romans. In asking for positions on Jesus' right and left, they were saying they were willing to work … and they were also feathering their nest. Jesus doesn't answer them harshly, as did another admirable leader.
- Mohandas Gandhi, though a Hindu, was greatly attracted to the Christ whom he encountered when reading the Gospels. Despite his birth into a middle class caste with all its taboos about Untouchables and such, Gandhi reached out to them and championed their cause. He also, like Christ, was able to lay aside inherited qualms about cleanliness and rituals associated with it. In the film Gandhi we see him in the Ashram that he established, a resting place for his followers to live in fellowship and harmony. One of the rules he established was that everyone must take a turn in cleaning the latrines. Gandhi's wife, Kasterbai, being from a caste that disdained such chores, refuses. In a rare display of anger, Gandhi attacks her, declaring that he will cast her out if she does not get on with the cleaning. A very different reaction from that of Jesus to his uncomprehending disciples. (2)
The baptism Jesus spoke of was not the one we received when water was poured over our heads. Jesus uses the word as a figure of speech to encompass the sufferings he would go through in his passion, as we speak of a baptism by fire. The apostles could not know what he was speaking of, but they, nonetheless, brashly affirmed they could do these things.
They were ignorant of what they were saying. Jesus continues to be gentle with them as he takes up another tack. "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on my right or on my left, this is not mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared" (Mark10: 40).
Jesus unwittingly uses a little irony here in saying that he is not the one who calls the shots in heaven, but the Father. Here Jesus shows his own humility: he had come to do the Father's will in total trust and obedience, and it would be the Father alone who awards the place settings in heaven.
Next we see that the other apostles were indignant that James and John had fished for preferential places in the kingdom. We can only imagine that the apostles were angry because James and John had one-upped them by their ploy. Obviously, the other apostles were just as ambitious.
- During the American Revolution, a passerby noticed an officer barking orders at his men, who were evidently overworked. When the passerby asked he officer why he himself didn't pitch in to help his own men, the officer informed him, haughtily, that he was a corporal.
The stranger took off his coat and lent a hand to the overworked men. When the work was accomplished, he dressed again and is supposed to have said, "Corporal, the next time you are in need of a helping hand, do not hesitate to call upon your commander-in-chief"; and with that General George Washington walked away." (3)
The Magnificat, the song of Mary, the lowly handmaid of the Lord, says, "He has put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted the lowly." But if one seeks to be exalted, it won't work, at least in the eyes of God. Or, as Jesus put in words we should memorize and live by, "Any one among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest; whosoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all."
Nelson Mandela learned that lesson too. He served his country at great personal cost, and now, even in old age and with a cane, he tirelessly seeks peace on the African continent, traveling to mediate the terrible wars that have broken out there. This example of service to the poor and lowly … warms the heart: "For decades Mandela was starved of contact with children, and the love and empathy he has shown them since his release from prison has become legendary.
- On one occasion several years ago, he had attended a lavish function in one of the wealthiest areas of South Africa. As he left the gathering four street children tried to approach him, but were chased away by his security staff. When he asked why, he was told the children weren't wearing proper clothes and smelt bad. "That's why I want to talk to them," he said, insisting that the children be brought back."
…But there is more to the Mandela incident: He tells the story that he lay awake that night, unable to sleep after hearing their tale, and next morning decided to set up a children's fund. He donates a third of his own salary to the fund, which is now a flourishing charity. (4)
Like most teachings, this [today's gospel] one is ambiguous. It is great as a check on those who are in position to force others to do their bidding. That is the context of the teaching here. On the other hand, if it is removed from that context and applied to those who are in the servant role in society, its consequences can be damaging.
Women point out that they have been told to rejoice in their servant role and seek no other. They should be willing to sacrifice themselves completely for the sake of their men. Their servant role was not to be servant leaders, as in the case of the apostles, but simply servile servants, endlessly sacrificing themselves and asking nothing in return. The function of the teaching is then to discourage them from demanding justice or seeking any larger, more fulfilling, role in society, even a role that would enable them to serve more widely and effectively. (5)
The New Testament teaching of servanthood directed to leaders has also been used by whites to reconcile nonwhites to servitude, including slavery. The reaction of self-assertion and demanding a share of controlling power is certainly understandable, even right. But this use of the teaching is a travesty, at least so far as this text is concerned.
This does not mean that serving one another even in ways that may be considered servile is inappropriate. We are to wash one another's feet. But that is an act of mutuality. Christian teaching gives dignity and status also to those whose work is cleaning homes and serving meals and digging ditches, but it certainly does not justify their exploitation. It does not justify discouraging those who find themselves in these social roles from seeking other avenues of service when their personal talents and experience prepare them for greater responsibility and leadership.
The earliest name for followers of Jesus, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was "The Way."
How far gone are we on the power scale?
- "A good example of modern cutthroat climbing comes from the comic strip Dilbert. Confronting an employee, the head of the company says, "Alice, it has come to my attention that you are spending time with your family at night … that's time that could be used productively to do extra work for no extra pay." Alice asks him, "Do you have a family?" To this he replies, "Hmmm … that would explain the people in my house. " (6)
1. “Do you want a diploma – or an education?” Connections, October 27, 2000.
2. “Illustrating text and theme,” Lectionaid, 8 (4): 46 (LectionAid, Inc., P.O. Box 19229, Boulder, CO 80308-2229. J. Nichols Adams, publisher), October 2000.
3. Larry Janowski, “What’s in it for us?” Markings, Readings – 146 (The Thomas More Association, 205 West Monroe St. -- Sixth Floor, Chicago IL 60606-5097), October 2000.
4. Fr. Joseph Nolan, “You must serve,” Good News, 27 (10): 379 (Good News, Liturgical Publications Inc., 2875 South James Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151), October 2000.
5. John B. Cobb Jr., “Theological themes,” Lectionary Homiletics, 11 (11): 28 (Lectionary Homiletics, Inc., 13540 East Boundary Road, Building 2, Suite 105, Midlothian, VA 23112), October 2000.
6. “Model homily,” Good News, pg. 360.
(Comments to Jerry at padre@tri-lakes.net. Jerry's book, Stories For All Seasons, is available at a discount through the Homiletic Resource Center.)