By Most Rev Prakash Mallavarapu
Archbishop of Visakhapatnam –
There’s another incident when Our Lord foretells about His suffering, death and resurrection, the reaction of the apostles was again surprising to Him: “He was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him” (Mk 9: 31-32).
Earlier Part: Paschal Mystery and Discipleship…
As they did not understand they continue to think and act in a manner that was contrary to His expectations. The Master is speaking about suffering and death and the disciples were discussing about who was the greatest (among them!!). What they were discussing embarrassed the Master: He asked them saying, “What were you discussing on the way?” They were silent…!(Mk 9: 33-35). Perhaps they sensed that it was something inappropriate or something that was unbecoming of a disciple of Jesus Christ! He then teaches them how they should be towards each other among themselves, “(disciple) must be last and servant of all.”
Once again we see here that the expectations, attitudes and values of the apostles were different because their understanding was still different from what their master wanted them to grasp. One cannot be the true disciple of Jesus Christ, if one understands and expects, and consequently thinks and acts contrary to the expectations of their Master. The disciples, including the twelve, struggled to understand and accept the Master’s mind! We have to die and rise: die to our desire to be great, to be above others, etc and rise to the ways of Our Lord. There is what is called ‘cost of discipleship.’ In our life too, this struggle would be there!
A third time the disciples were told of what is going to happen to him in Jerusalem: “And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed… and taking the Twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “Behold, we are going to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered… and they will mock him and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him, and after three days he will rise”(Mark 10: 32-34).
The reaction and response of the Twelve is not said clearly. But, immediately what seems to have followed surprised the Master. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come forward and place their petition before him: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left.”
In this petition we see how they were not yet with His way of understanding of discipleship. He was not only amused but was totally surprised at their request. In reply He said, “You do not know what you are asking.” (Mk 10: 35-38). We see the wide gap between what he was trying to teach them and what they were thinking about following Him. They were rather ambitious and the Master had to clarify his mind.
The other ten apostles did not approve of the ambition of James and John and they “were “indignant” with them. In other words, they did not like the way James and John sought high positions. The Master gives instruction to all the twelve about how seeking power, position, and privileges is not to be in His disciples or followers.
Promoting oneself and at the same time serving the cause of Jesus Christ and be engaged in the saving mission of the Church can dilute the quality of our discipleship. It can lead to compromises and halfhearted commitment. Seeking the Lord and the way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ while looking after oneself may not be wrong in itself. But it will be wrong if one is pursuing one’s own interests, ambitions and plans at the cost of going against one’s mission as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Promoting oneself and one’s status or assets or importance is not expected of a disciple of Jesus. But, along with the daily efforts to be faithful to everything pertaining to the given state of life and position or responsibility, one has to take care to live for the values Jesus teaches and promote the same. One who wants to be great should be small and servant of all! What the Apostles James and John aspired and asked surprised the Master but He did not condemn them outright. In the instruction that followed he gives a clarification: “You know that those who are supposed rule over the Gentiles lord it over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant… For the Son of man has come not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:4245).
The disciple should learn from the Master and follow him. It is important that the disciple strives to make Jesus their Master and Lord present in his/her life. This means, the thinking, the attitudes and the daily dealings with people and things of the world are in line with those of the Master!
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not things that are on earth. For your have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God… Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…But, now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off your old man with his practices” (Col 3:1-4, 5- 9).