[Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 32; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45]
Several years ago, Pam was caught speeding in the car. When she told me I started to act all superior; telling her off and commenting that she always drove too fast. I was in full flow, when I suddenly stopped, realising that if I ever got caught speeding, I would get the same message back only more severe. In fact, what Pam needed from me at that time wasn’t a lecture, she needed my support. She was frightened as she had gotten into trouble with the law, and she was worried about the consequences. As a husband, it is not my role to Lord it over her, it is to support her; even when she gets things wrong. As her husband, Pam should be able to trust that she can tell me anything and that I will not judge her. That would not have been her experience that day. As a husband, especially as a Christian husband, I am called to put Pam’s needs before my own and serve her, in the same way, she is called to put my needs before her own and serve me. I have to admit, Pam is far better at this than I am and even after 39 years of being married I still need to get better at this.
In a few weeks, we will celebrate Jesus as the King. He is not just a king as we understand it as humans, but He is the King of Kings; the King of the Universe. When Jesus came into the world He didn’t come to Lord it over us, he came as a vulnerable baby. Initially his parents had to flee to another country to keep him safe; he was a refugee. When it was safe, his parents brought him back and He lived under their authority until it was time for Him to gather people around Him who would build His Church on earth. He taught these people that the Kingdom of Heaven was coming and that those who believed and followed Him would have a place there. James and John didn’t want just any place, they wanted to be as close to Jesus as possible. Let’s face it, given a similar opportunity to have that conversation with Jesus, would any of us have asked for anything different?
Jesus realises that His disciples need to become more like Him. He tells them that if they want to be seen as great in heaven then they needed to be servants to all on earth. Acts of service are a way of demonstrating our love of neighbour. Jesus doesn’t ask us just to help the people we like or just do the nice things to help people. He asks us to get down on our hands and knees and wash the dirt from the feet of the beggar, He asks us to get to know those affected by addiction, He asks us to visit prisoners or those in hospital. As Pope Francis said of priests, but I think it applies to all Christians, we should be like shepherds who smell of their sheep.[1] In order to elevate ourselves to the heights of heaven we need to lower ourselves to the role of servant.
This Sunday all around the world it is Mission Sunday. On the second last Sunday of October every year, each Parish is asked to contribute towards those who go out and work in Missionary territories. The proceeds from these collections benefit 1,150 territories where the Gospel has not yet been received, has only recently been embraced, or is courageously upheld in the face of persecution.[2] The needs of those working in lands where Christians are persecuted is exacerbated by the conflict spreading through the Holy Land at the moment. The war in the Holy Land isn’t just causing problems there; but also in other lands where Jews, Muslims and Christians live side by side; including those working in Missions in the Middle East. On the Missio UK website, we hear from Fr Rouphael, who outlines conditions in the Holy Land. He speaks of 90,000 Israelis and 1.9 million Palestinians being displaced and effectively made homeless because of the war. Missio still has people working in these war-torn areas. Today’s Gospel calls us to service. It discourages us from being self-serving but instead to look at those in need. The people we support through Missio are ‘out there’ putting their own lives at risk; to serve as Jesus has called them. Our call from Jesus is to support them as best we can; this is how we can best serve them today; by being as generous as we can through our financial and prayerful support.
Further Reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 599-609: Christ’s redemptive death in the plan of salvation
CCC 520: Christ’s self-emptying as an example for us to imitate
CCC 467, 540, 1137: Christ the High Priest
World Mission Sunday: Fr Rouphael’s message – Missio
Mission Prayer: Loving God, inspire us to ‘go and invite everyone to the banquet.’ Nourished from gathering around your table, may our communities reflect your unconditional love, so that all are welcomed with open arms, and the most vulnerable find refuge, care, and compassion. May our prayers and generosity bring strength to missionaries, enabling them to share the joy that faith brings, so that everyone, everywhere, may experience your hope and love, renewing and healing our world. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Please keep in your prayers this week
- The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
- Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
- The continued success of the Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money coaching programme, in the pastoral area.
- The fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
- The families who will complete the Baptism Preparation Programme at St Bede’s this weekend.
- Ryan, Kaleb, Kylan, Edem and Noah who will be baptised at St Bede’s this Sunday.
- Hospital chaplains in the diocese.
- Those living and working in Missionary territories.
Deacon Tony
19th October 2024
[1] Pope to priests: Be “shepherds with ‘the smell of the sheep'” – Inside The Vatican
[2] World Mission Sunday 2024 – The Pontifical Mission Societies (onefamilyinmission.org)