Talking Past Each Other

Gospel: Matthew 20: 17-28

For the third time Jesus tells his disciples about his impending arrest and execution at the hands of the political and religious leaders of the day.  In the previous episodes, the disciples would object to this lesson, and Jesus would then rebuke them.  The source of their objections are found in today's Gospel, as the disciples are not really listening to what Jesus has to say.

Instead they are arguing among themselves as to who is most important, who will occupy the seats of power and authority in Jesus' kingdom.  See, they still think Jesus' kingdom is a political one where Jesus is a king with an army and they the disciples are powerful people of importance.  This is why they object to Jesus' mention of arrest and execution: it goes against their own preferences and preconceived ideas and self-importance.

How often do we complain about God not listening to our prayer! But here we have the counterpoint: God is speaking to us through Jesus about living a life of service to the point of death for others, but we are not listening.  We are too self-absorbed with our desire for power, our squabbles with others over our self-importance, our own preconceived ideas of a Christianity that is about political power and not of service to others.  Lent is our time to turn away from these idolatries we have to self, power, and delusions of grandeur and to recommit to a life of mercy and humble service to others.