“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
26th May 2021
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WEDNESDAY, EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Memorial of Saint Philip Neri,
Sir 36:1-2,5-6,13-19;
Ps 79:8-9,11,13;
Mk 10:32-45
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THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP
Today’s Gospel passage has a lot to speak about discipleship. It follows two significant episodes:
- The disappointing encounter with the rich young man who went away sad when Jesus invited him to give up his wealth (Mk 10:17-27). Many of us would do the same!
- Peter’s confident proclamation: “We have left everything to follow you” (Mk 10:28). Really?? He had indeed left his family and trade, almost everything he had, but not his self. Like him, we too always carry the self with us!
It is because of these demands, that those who were following him “were afraid” (v. 32). Jesus does not compromise, but raises the bar even higher. He speaks about his suffering for the third time (see earlier predictions: Mk 8:31-33 and 9:30-32). Each time he is misunderstood. In today’s episode James and John, two of the three favourite Apostles, declare that they are ready to be baptised in the pain of suffering, and drink the cup that Christ foretells is waiting for them. But were they serious? Just a little while ago they had asked Jesus to grant them positions of power. And notice all the other ten disciples were indignant at James and John. Hence, none of them had actually understood the cost of discipleship yet. But we know that, gradually, all of them did (exception for Judas Iscariot), after they actually witnessed (even if it was from afar) the death of Jesus on the cross. One by one (except for John), beginning with James, they all drank from the cup of martyrdom.
As each of us works out the patterns of our own call to discipleship with Jesus, at times we understand what is being asked of us, while at other times, we miss the message like the Zebedee brothers. Let us make the Paschal Mystery we celebrate in the Eucharist, the centre of our lives. Then we will be on the path of getting everything right.
Response: Show us, O Lord, the light of your mercy.
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