In today’s Gospel we hear James and John asking Jesus for the highest places of honor; thinking only of themselves, looking for positions of power and authority, oblivious to what it meant to be a true follower of Christ. Even though Jesus tried to explain it to them on many occasions, it seemed to go right over their head. But Christ didn’t give up on them. He continued to teach them and trusted them to eventually “get it right” and do the right thing. That should be comforting for us to know that no matter how many times we fail as long as we keep trying and praying for the God given wisdom, he won’t give up on us either.
From the actions of James and John then, to present day, not much has changed in 2000 years. In today’s society, people still strive for positions of power and authority. It’s part of human nature. We’re taught competition from an early age. We’re taught to be the best we can be, be the best at what we do. We’re taught to climb the “Ladder of Success”. And there’s nothing wrong with that; nothing wrong with good healthy competition, nothing wrong with wanting to be good at what we do, even striving to be the best. That’s what makes us strong, and gives us character. What we need to remember, however, is where our gifts come from, and those gifts aren’t for us to keep to ourselves. We need to use those God-given gifts for the good of all. Far too often we forget that and think only of our own selfish desires. Too many people think that success is synonymous with fame and fortune; and they also want the power and the prestige that goes along with it. Far too often, people are determined to get higher up that “Ladder of Success” even if it means climbing over a few bodies on the way up.
In Jesus’ time, success came when a person assumed a position of authority; usually through heredity or through battles and wars. Either way the goals that accompanied their rise to power were self-interest; selfishness and greed. The laws that they enforced upon those that they governed did not apply to them. Their leadership had one goal — to make their own lives as comfortable as possible, which came at the expense of those they ruled. The motive for leadership was basically, greed.
Does this type of leadership sound familiar? It should. We’re leading into a presidential election year. Campaigns have become a competition of who can raise the most money. Whoever can raise the most money can advertise more and get a bigger name recognition. Views on particular topics are important, of course, but views seem to change depending on the group of people they’re speaking to. Then once elected they’re views become the views of those who donated the most money. The United States was originally founded on the same Christian principles of service and responsibility to those being led and those in need, but what has evolved over the years is the same “pagan” leadership style that existed in the time of Christ.
Modern industry has also adopted the same leadership style. Corporate leaders are paid large salaries for one purpose — to keep a company profitable, so shareholders continue to receive larger and larger dividends. When the leadership of a company cares more for their own greed and the greed of their shareholders, Christian principles are sacrificed. The good of the employees along with all else becomes subservient to the profits. Many corporate leaders and politicians are, unfortunately, driven by greed in today’s culture. Ethical and moral values are compromised in ways that Christ would say has insured them a home in Gehenna. Their idea of success doesn’t match up with the Christian idea of success.
Christ gives us a different definition. The true meaning of success, is reaching the goals that God has set for us. God does give each of us goals. And for each of us success can mean something different, and a different path leading to success. To James, several other Apostles and many other Saints through the centuries, success meant martyrdom. In today’s readings we’re given a different model of success. Today’s readings are about service. The first reading is from the “Servant Song” from the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. It emphasizes God’s care and comfort for his people. The servant of the first reading intercedes with God for the people, taking upon himself their wrongdoings and accepting the punishment their sins incur. This was written over 500 years before Jesus, yet it prophesied Christ’s life of service and his determination to accept the cross. In the Gospel, Jesus directly tells us “Whoever wishes to be great among you, will be your servant; Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus is telling us that greatness in the kingdom of God is all about serving, all about giving, all about others, not our own greed and selfish desires. Jesus is telling us that the great people in the kingdom of God aren’t the ones who make the most money, but the ones who give the most of themselves. They aren’t the people who wield the power, but the people who love their neighbors and help those in need. They aren’t the people with great talent, but the people who use their talent – great or small – to serve their brothers and sisters. Those are the great ones in the eyes of God.
Today is also World Mission Sunday. Organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith , it’s a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Churches’ missionary activities in the world. There are approx. 1,100 missionary dioceses around the world that receive regular annual assistance from the funds that are collected. We need to remind ourselves that Christ commissioned his disciples to make disciples of all nations, and through our baptism, we are all called to share in that task.
Today, let us pray for the missionaries, and all who support them to have the courage, as Jesus asked James and John, “To drink the cup that Jesus drinks. And to be baptized with the baptism with which he is baptized. May we all come to share in the Glory of God, through our service to others.