29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, Year 2, October 22, 2006

Scripture:Isaiah 53:10-11. Psalm 33:4-5,18-22. Heb.4:14-16. Mark 10:35-45

My first impression in reading the Scriptures for this Sunday is that they are similar to Lenten readings! Jesus is the Suffering Servant (Isaiah is the prophet who gives us a series of Suffering Servant hymns from chapters 40:1-55:13). His suffering is creative redemption for Israel and for all peoples. The hymns are of great comfort for those suffering and struggling in life's journey. Jesus, too, is totally human and it is through his humanity that he is the suffering servant of God. He calls himself the "Son of Man" in order to emphasize his oneness with our human nature.

The text chosen from the Epistle to the Hebrews is quite clear about the humanity of Jesus and his being a limited individual who suffers and dies. Redemption through Jesus' human suffering is similar to the message of Isaiah's Suffering Servant hymns.

The Gospel of Mark is very stark and it, too, focuses on the Cross of Christ and his sufferings for us. In the story today, two of the very first brother-disciples, James and John, are seeking to be next to Jesus in what they think will be the glorious reign of the Messiah here on earth. But to understand Mark's point of view one must "think the thoughts of God" given to them by Jesus, not the thoughts of "men." If they are to be one with Jesus in the glorious kingdom, they must be creative agents of redemption through their own sufferings and their following of Jesus to the Cross.

Very often it is difficult for people who counsel others to explain why their clients undergo much suffering. Their questions about why God permits this in some of them is one of the most exasperating dimensions for pastors and counselors. I do not think the Gospel answers these questions directly nor do the Gospels have the modern psychological approach to the problem of human suffering. Those in the helping professions are often baffled and silent when persons ask them about why they have to suffer and why does God permit suffeing of extremes in many people. Like Isaiah, and the authors of the New Testament, one can only point to the image of the Suffering Servant and the suffering Christ as a way of helping them to cope with the suffering they experience. We look to Jesus and see that he was rejected, betrayed, suffered and even died on the criminal instrument of the Cross. Why? The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was obedient and sought to do the will of God in all of his words, deeds, and even in his sufferings. As Son of Man he was very much a suffering servant but as Son of God he pointed the way to the kingdom. He did more than than, he made it possible for us to see our own sufferings in the light of his redemptive love expressed by his death on the Cross for all who believe in him. He told James and John that there is a glorious kingdom awaiting them, but it was God who would say who is at the right and the left hand of God. In our human nature we are most like Jesus, but it is He who is the Creative redeemer of all peoples. This is our Christian faith which leads us to hope and is affirmed by love. Christ as the Suffering Servant of God helps us to accept and understand our sufferings. As wounded healers and limited human beings we are called to imitate both the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (Israel) and Jesus Christ as a suffering messiah. Amen.