Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Someone once said that most people prefer a decaffeinated Christianity. It’s the type of Christianity that won’t keep a person awake at night.
Jesus tends to wake us up from our decaffeinated world.
Today, two of the disciples of Jesus are brought back to the reality of God’s Kingdom. They had been following Jesus for some time and wanted to have places of honor next to him in the Kingdom. They thought that their request was reasonable. What’s fair is fair. They had been with Jesus for a while. They had devoted themselves to him. Jesus, in responding to their request, tells them that Heaven doesn’t come without the cup that he will drink — a cup filled with the blood that he would shed on the cross of sacrifice.
The Christian lifestyle is not about getting honors, or gold stars from God, or even about fairness. The Christian lifestyle is one of giving one’s life for others, serving those in need, and lifting people up to God. Sometimes, it even includes dying for the sake of someone else.
This is a different way than the world teaches us. For example, when I was a kid, we played king of the hill. The object of the game was to push people down in order to get to the top. But Jesus awakens us to a different reality. He tells us that we must help others before we help ourselves. That would not work when playing that childhood game.
I think of people who are in battle, who help the wounded get to safety before they seek it themselves. Or parents who rescue their children from danger, before they flee themselves to safety. Or a husband who takes care of a wife in her illness, not thinking of his own comfort.
And so, Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”
Jesus leads the way and shows it to us by example, “For the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” That is the Christianity we are asked to live — not to ask for greatness, but to become great by serving someone other than ourselves.
Have a blessed week everyone.