Daily Gospel Reflection for May 30, 2019

Today's Gospel: Mark 10:32-45 The Gospel of Mark is known for its refusal to ‘muck about’. Things move right along in Mark and the language is clear and often painfully blunt. There are two bold face headings within this passage: the Third Prediction of the Passion and the Ambition of James and John. Over the years, I’ve heard interesting explanations for why Jesus tells the disciples the prediction of the Passion three times, and I’ve heard some fairly silly ones as well. I’m inclined to believe the simplest is the most likely – they just didn’t want to hear it. They didn’t want to hear anything about condemning and suffering and death. That was awkward. They were all ears (no brains) whenever Christ mentioned glory, though. How hurtful it must have been for Christ to see the blank faces, to know they are not listening to Him, they are not hearing what He is trying to tell them. Three times! Three times He tells them, there’s going to be pain, there’s going to be spitting and humiliation and death. Do they say, ‘Explain to us more so we can help you or what do you mean, rise again?’ Instead they say, ‘Whoa, don’t be such a downer, people might leave you.’ Or they say nothing out of fear, or, like James and John, they selfishly ask for positions of glory. Rather than grab these fools by their shirts and shake sense into them, Christ continues to explain and teach. “…whoever among you wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Surely this passage proves that Jesus is God among us; for which I am eternally grateful because, even on my best days, I have more in common with the disciples than I do the Lord.

Ponder:

Who will I be today? Will I be James and John or as close as I can be to the Son of Man?

Pray:

O loving and giving Lord, today I will be the servant You’ve shown I should be. But please, O Lord, I’m going to need your help – every day until I die.

Copyright 2018 Annette K. Tenny Annette K. Tenny is a freelance writer, a member of the Catholic Writers Guild and a frequent contributor to the Catholic News Herald, the Charlotte, NC, diocesan newspaper. Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning! * indicates required