In Mark’s
Gospel, James and John asked Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to
do for us whatever we ask of you.” Jesus asked them, “What do you wish me to
do for you?” I can almost hear the innocent, naïve
eagerness in their voices as they pled—expecting Jesus to comply, “Grant
… in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” (Mark 10:35-45)
Being number
4 of 5 brothers myself, I have to admire their spunk; they beat their brother
apostles to the punch. They asked
first! Possibly they thought, “this is
an easy request. Someone has to sit
there, why not us?”
My first
thought is exactly that. James and John were two men who walked miles with
Jesus; slept next to Him at the end of a long, hard day; fished with Him;
laughed, maybe even cried with Him.
Brothers who listened to Jesus’ daily exhortations to love and care for
others, especially the poor and outcast.
Brothers who broke bread and shared limited resources with Jesus and
others. Two who witnessed Jesus curing
the sick and lame, healing the broken hearted, the lost and the yearning. Often they understood little of what was
happening. They knew only that they
wanted always to be as close to Jesus as possible. Jesus who gently and
sincerely loved everyone He encountered: sick, homeless, hungry – even the politicians
of the day.
Jesus asked
them, “Can you drink the cup that I drink?” As I often do when reflecting on the gospels,
I ask, “What exactly does this mean for me?”
“When have I been so attracted to someone (or their message) that I felt
I would give almost anything for the opportunity to meet that person?” It’s
funny, but the Pope (whether John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul, John Paul II,
Benedict VI, or Francis) is that person for me.
And I’ve been blessed to be in the actual presence of two Popes—JPII and
Francis!
Like the “Sons
of Thunder”, I see myself joyfully, enthusiastically reaching out to touch the
Pope’s hand, his garment. I hear Pope
Francis’ bold, challenging yet gentle words, but am I really listening? I watch to see how others—the ones he’s
really speaking to—respond. Will his
words change the way they do things? The
way we do things? The way I do things? Have I been listening to the gospel words of
Jesus for the past 68 years? Have I?
As the Vicar
of Christ on Earth today, Pope Francis is speaking Jesus’ words of compassion
for the poor, personal generosity of time and resources, concern and care for
the homeless, the poor and for our planet, our natural resources – nothing new,
nothing the gospels don’t proclaim.
Jesus spoke this message on the plain, from the mountaintop, in the
garden, at a table, and in the midst of political crowds. The Pope continues to speak Jesus’ message- in
a plane, on a bus, from a balcony, in a prison, while eating with the homeless,
in the public forum, from an improvised altar in the middle of a sports stadium.
The message
is the same.
We are a
beloved people to whom Jesus offers love. A love we’re meant to share and spread. How do I receive this gift of love which Jesus
offers to me? How do I receive the
challenging, yet gentle words offered by Pope Francis? Am I sharing the little I may have? Am I
generous with my financial and personal resources of time and talent, what
little I may have? Do I invite the
hungry child to my table? Do I see my
homeless brother? Do I listen to my
sister’s story? The Pope’s
encouragement gives me hope and inspiration that I can do something, no matter
how slight. What I could do is…. What I would really like and enjoy doing
with and for my brother and sister is…..
I want to offer…. Just entering
into the conversation, I realize how much I do have to share. I am bountifully blessed – what little I may
have. I have hope.
I realize
that my attraction to Pope Francis (and any past or future Popes) is but a
spark of Jesus’ attraction to me. His
cup is continually being poured out and offered to me in untold ways -
sometimes bold and challenging, sometimes gentle and inspirational. Jesus holds the cup while I sip. I simply have to drink.
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