Wednesday - Second Week of Lent

Gospel – Matthew 20:17-28

Are Ya Listening?

Church of Holy Sepulchre

One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

After their return from the trip, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. “It was great, Dad,” the son replied. “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh Yeah,” said the son.  “So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them. The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “It showed me just how poor we really are.”

You have to wonder sometimes – how can some people see so clearly and others can miss or completely ignore what is right in front of them!  How can you be so blind or in such a state of denial that you are focused on something else?

That is what happens in today’s Gospel.  Jesus has just revealed to His disciples that they are going up to Jerusalem where He will be arrested, condemned, mocked, tortured and crucified!  No flowery language, no story, just the simple blunt words!  You would think they would all be horrified, terrified.  And yet the mother of James and John jumps in and asks for a favor for her sons.   Can my sons have places of honor in Your kingdom?  No signs of sadness at Jesus’ words, no attempt to talk Him out of going to Jerusalem.  Blinded by ambition for her sons, she is in complete denial about the meaning of Jesus’ words. You have to wonder about Jesus’ reaction.  Were you even listening?  Did you hear what I said?

Such a situation, unfortunately, is not foreign to us.  Most of us have seen something like this at work.  Someone so intent on their own ambition and advancement that they stab others in the back in order to get that promotion or pay raise!  So focused on themselves that they refuse to see what is right in front of them! So consumed with ambition, they lose sight of what’s really important.

It is up to Jesus to remind the mother and the disciples that His mission has nothing to do with power or thrones.  It is a mission of service to others!  It is dedication to a life of sacrifice and denial of self for the love of our neighbor!. 

Great Spirit, help me today to see clearly and treat everyone as if they were You!

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