What do You Want
There is a folk saying ‘Be careful what you ask for, you may get it’. This week’s Gospel proves it’s truth - Mark 10:35-45 the Zebedee brothers come to Jesus, on the quiet, and ask him to do them a favor. Jesus replies ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They respond, asking to sit at his right hand and his left when he comes in glory.
Jesus in turn asks them. ‘Do you know what you are asking?’ and goes on to explain to them that this would mean they have to ‘drink the chalice that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized’ to which they confidently reply that they are able.
Little did they know that Jesus was referring to the chalice of ‘His Blood shed at His Passion’ and the ‘Baptism of Death on the Cross’. I believe they were thinking of a chalice of wine and a baptism of water.
What an irony that the brothers asked to be at Jesus' right and left, the places ultimately occupied by two crucified criminals. And, they asked for this right after Jesus had told the disciples that his mission would lead to his death. To top it off, at the hour in the Garden of Gethsemane they could not stay awake with him.
So often, like the Zebedee brothers, we ask for things naively, not thinking through the consequences of our wishes. We ask for power, wealth and glory, not recognizing that these worldly possessions bring with them considerable challenges. I believe Jesus often tells us ‘‘Do you know what you are asking?’.
Jesus promises them that they would drink of his chalice and be baptized with his baptism. The Acts of the Apostles and Christian tradition hold that both Zebedee brothers, James and John, died as martyrs.
Glory in the Kingdom of Heaven is the glory attached to the serving of others, not in occupying places of prominence, of honor or power. Jesus teaches that true greatness comes from humility and service.
This profound lesson reminds us that the path to eternal glory is not through selfish ambition or seeking recognition but through selfless love, sacrifice, and service to others.
Yet, in asking to share in Jesus’ glory, James and John unknowingly invited a share in his suffering—a suffering that, through the mystery of faith, leads to resurrection and the fulfillment of God's promise. They did obtain prominence in the Kingdom, but not through the path they envisioned.
St Paul invites us to have ambition for the higher things of the Kingdom of Heaven. And Jesus invites us to ask and you will receive. When we pray in petition for things from Jesus, He answers our prayers, but often not in the way we expected. So be careful what we ask for!
Friend, I invite you to continue to journey with me on our pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Heaven. I have started work on producing a small book for this Advent and Christmas. I plan on giving a few talks during November and December, in person and online, to accompany the book. Please consider making a donation to this venture and my ministry, either through a paid subscription to this newsletter or through the purchase of one of my products on my webpage WEBPAGE LINK
I sincerely thank those of you who have already done so - May God reward you abundantly with His blessings.