Scripture Reflection for May 28, 2008 from lectionary

Scripture: Wednesday of 8th week in ordinary time. May 28, 2008. I Peter
1:18-25. Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20, Mark 10:32-45. Lectionary # 349:

James and John, Zebedees sons, who were among the first called by
Jesus now have a proud request. They want to be next to God in the kingdom
that Jesus is preaching! He needs to take them down a notch or two for the
other ten are quite angry about their presumptive desire. Do they think
they are better than the rest of the apostles? Jesus again uses the
occasion for a great lesson in leadership. Their best service is to imitate
what he is doing for them and with them; Jesus is their master but he
serves their needs in so many ways by not being proud or presumptuous in
what he asks of God. He wants simply to do the will of God and show them
what that means. Leadership consists in serving one another after they
really know what God's message is for them through Jesus. They seem to
accept the miracles and good things they hear but they reject and are
fearful about the Paschal Mystery Jesus now is sharing with them for the
third time. They just do not get it! James and John should have known
better after following Jesus for some time, however, they do get set in
their place and with the other ten learn about servant leadership. Today
this is practiced especially by those working for social justice and peace
on university campus and in campus ministries. Our young are generous and
learn much from such educated leaders who are concerned about the important
issues of the day--peace, environment, justice for the poor, education for
all.
The disciples affirm that they can drink of the cup of Jesus. They
will attest to this after Jesus leaves them. He as the Suffering Servant
of God (seen especially in Isaiah II and III) will help them to be creative
agents in passing on the salvific news to others. They will all become
servnat leaders except for Judas Iscariot. Jesus has taught them and us
the need for humility, truth, and perserverance if we too are to become
true educators and servant leaders.
Years later a letter is attributed to St. Peter. We are doing a
continuous reading of it in the liturgy during this week. Here we learn
the elements of servant leadership as we read about our own commitment to
it through this baptismal epistle. Our faith and hope must be centered on
the Lord God--this is the priority that servant leaders must have if their
concern and love for others is selfless and generous. Leaders must be
truthful and wholesome in their service of others. There is to be a
genuine love for our brothers and sisters who are also servant leaders.
Finally, the epistle tells us that the word of God is what leads us and
guides us in our speech and our actions. Recent popes have taken as their
own way of living this out in the motto attached to their role in the
Church. They consider themselves servant to the servants of God. Amen.