Everyone is most welcome to join us for our Sunday Eucharist at St Thomas' Church at 11 am or at St Agnes' at 9.15 am. Reverend Lyn will be preaching and presiding on the twentieth Sunday after Trinity at both churches. Some of our Covid precautions remain in place to keep everybody safe, but we'll be singing a couple of hymns and offering refreshments after the service, and Sunday School is now back at St Thomas'.
If you're not able to be with us in person, you can find the Gospel, reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn today is "Here is Bread, Here is Wine "
Today's Gospel
Mark 10:35-45 The Request of James and John
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Reflection
“…whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all”.
If you, like me are feeling a sense of déjà vu it is perhaps not surprising. In the previous passage of Mark’s gospel, we heard about the rich man who wanted to know what he needed to do to inherit the Kingdom of God. He was hard working, good and honest and as we saw, he felt that he was a deserving of a place in heaven. So, he decided to have word with Jesus just to confirm he was on the right track.
This week it is James and John who, for want of a better phrase, decide to chance their arm. They boldly approach Jesus and ask him if he will give them ‘whatever they want’. Then they follow this up with a specific request to sit at his right and left hand. Not just any old request then, they selfishly wanted Jesus to use his power to make them very rich and powerful.
They could see the wonders that Jesus had performed and the following he had and would have assumed that this would lead to him becoming almighty and powerful in an earthly sense. More powerful than Herod, richer than the most powerful leader anyone had ever known with an abundance of wealth and servants. Someone who would soon be able to give them more gold and prosperity than could be dreamt of and the power to lord it over others. Maybe, James and John, like the rich merchant had view that they deserved some reward. After all they had been with Jesus for some time and if he was going to be powerful, they were surely entitled to some payback.
We cannot begin to think how Jesus felt. After all James and John had been called by him and had been following him for a considerable time, listening to his teachings and seeing his examples of love and selflessness. Hearing Jesus tell of the need to put others first and help one another.
How would you feel under the circumstances and how might you have reacted? Would you have said, “Haven’t you heard a word I said?” “Don’t you know better?” Would you have cast them out and told them they weren’t fit to be a disciple and follow him? Or maybe just sighed in despair and told them to go away?
But of course, that is not Jesus’ way. Instead, he patiently explains that real greatness comes from acts of selflessness not selfishness. A message that he would repeat time and again right through until the Last Supper when he washed the disciple’s feet and gave then a new commandment: “…….. that you love one another, just as I have loved you”
What of the other disciples during all this? We are told they were angry with James and John. Was it because they too felt they should be rewarded but hadn’t had the temerity to ask? Did they feel jealous? Or did they feel let down by their friends for the selfish way they had behaved?
Then finally, how about us? Surely, we wouldn’t have behaved like James and John – would we? Unfortunately, we do so regularly. Haven’t we all asked God for something for ourselves at times? “Please let me get that promotion and pay rise, please let my child pass those exams, let my friend or relative get better”, and many other requests both large and small. Do we sometimes like James and John think perhaps we are deserving because we’ve made the effort to come to church. Or do we think we can make contracts with God - like a child who promises to behave if they can have some sweets, (even though they know they can’t), do we promise God we will do better somehow if God answers today’s prayer? The reality of course is that none of us are afraid to ask for God’s help when we want something.
God is no doubt capable of giving us everything we want in life but that is not the way. Instead, he chose instead to give us his Love in a more powerful way. He gave his only Son that we might be saved. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He gave us the ultimate ‘King’s ransom”. God has shown us the way to salvation and happiness and asks us to follow the path that Jesus showed us by serving others and showing love to those around us.
We can be thankful, that we have the selflessness of Jesus who showed tolerance and love for his disciples even when they were selfish and should have known better. Because we are human, we will of course continue to put ourselves first and ask Him for help. But we need to remember in return to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and be willing to serve one another with gladness.
Paul
Our prayers
Almighty Father,
We humbly confess that we are weak and selfish
who expect more from you than we are willing to give in return.
We thank you for your endless love which knows no limits
And we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ
who gave his life as a ransom for us all.
We ask you to enter our hearts and minds
That we may ask not to be served but serve you and each other
With gladness and joy
And that we may love you and each other
With all our soul.
Amen
Our final hymn this morning is "From Heaven You Came (Servant King)"
