“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” “When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”
Jesus’ two disciples, James and John, are concerned with glory. Glory is defined as “worldly honor, renown.” The disciples imagine that the uniqueness of Jesus will be heralded. They envision Jesus living in worldly honor, renown. The disciples want to experience that same worldly glory too. The other disciples are described as “indignant,” meaning they are “displeased,” “resentful.” Are they indignant because they too want the glory of this world or are they perhaps displeased because, like Jesus, they understand the division the desire for glory will cause. The two disciples do not realize the new family of which they are a part, the Community of God Jesus is co-creating with them, and other commoners, brings that world of rule and its glory to an end. It ends because it is in the development of every person and thus, in time, in the development of all humanity to no longer live under or as rulers who lord their glory over others. In Jesus’ witness we live instead as family in service of each other. James and John have their counterparts in our time. There are some who are not so concerned with living as one family in service of one another but instead as rulers in glory over others. For example, Biblical Nationalists, who can also be identified as MAGA (Make America Great Again), are fixed upon the glory of earthly rule. It is for that reason that thousands upon thousands of MAGA are attempting to fraudulently control the election of rulers in the U.S. One of the earthly rulers attempting such control is Lance Wallnau. He is a pastor whose “Courage Tour” is preparing MAGA members to rule, to Lord their authority over others, specifically as Wallnau says, “to occupy territory now.” Another earthly ruler is Joshua Standifer and his Lion of Judah group. They have been travelling the country accentuating stops in key swing states, for example, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin. They are teaching members of MAGA congregations to be election workers. “It’s time that Christians… take back the mountain of Government and transform our nation.” “I promised you guys an action plan.” “We spent months calculating and creating, meeting with experts… (to) take Christians and put them in a place of influence… what if we had Christians across America… that were actually the ones counting the votes?” What we would have are Judas’ seeking glory in the kingdoms of the world, and not disciples being of loving service for each other in the Community of God.
“I think awhile of Love, and while I think, Love is to me a world… a kindred nature… And each may other help, and service do, Drawing Love’s bands more tight, Service we ne’er shall rue… What power there is in Love, one’s inmost soul to move.… Two sturdy oaks… which side by side, Withstand the winter’s storm, the spite of wind and tide, Grow up the meadow’s pride… below Down to their deepest source, Admiring you shall find Their roots are intertwined.” (Friendship – Henry David Thoreau)
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, May I live as a loving servant.
Question: In what ways have rulers and kingdoms of the world replaced Jesus and the Community of God for me?
October 20, 2024 Mark 10:35-45 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time