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29TH SUNDAY: WHAT DO YOU WISH ME TO DO FOR YOU?

Writer's picture: Vincent  ArisukwuVincent Arisukwu

I have wondered why this question appears twice in the same chapter (10:36,51) of Mark’s gospel and what Jesus intends for his followers or potential recipients of his miracle. First, he asks James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?” Then a little later, the blind Bartimaeus shows up as they arrive at Jericho, demanding, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus posits the same question, What do you want me to do for you?” Perhaps, Jesus realizes the internal conflicts and the many opposing thoughts in our hearts, even as we settle down to pray. What exactly do we want Jesus to do for us?


In his book, Jesus, The Master Psychologist, Dr. Ray Guarendi argues strongly about Jesus and his identity. Jesus is not just one of the good men, rather, he is the one who transforms human situation for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Guarendi (2021) remarks, “Jesus’ primary mission was to redeem humanity. He was born to die as the perfect sacrifice. For more than three years, however, He also taught about love, people, and morality. In some teachings, He is two millennia ahead of what psychology is coming to understand. In others, He contradicts what psychology preaches” (p.7).


When James and John come to Jesus with the statement, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you,” they represent a popular mindset about faith, religion, and prayer. Then their submission, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” This isn’t totally out of tone with a welfare-driven human inclination. This type of prayer corresponds to what the prosperity gospel preaches today and shows that the sons of Zebedee have a skewed impression of Jesus. Their perception of religion is something like this, “Jesus fosters greatness, authority, and human welfare." However, Jesus redirects their attention and those of the other ten apostles and cautions against a domineering, popularity-seeking attitude of the Gentiles, “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”


While responding to Nicolas Diat on how to view the authentic connection between Christianity and morality, Cardinal Sarah reflected that Christianity be seen as “an encounter with an event, a Person.” He maintains, “This man who comes to us, Christ, gives life a new prospect and, thereby, its decisive orientation” (God or Nothing, p. 154). There is a need to reinforce this message about Christianity in our time. Christianity is not one group preaching and promoting prosperity gospel. It is an encounter with Jesus, the Son of God. Herein lies the message, “Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession” (Heb 4:14).


Today, there is a proliferation of Churches and an outburst of men and women who assume the role of pastors, evangelists, and preachers. Various Christian groups promote different messages according to the theological training of their preachers. Yet Christ never changes. Within the Catholic Church, the sacraments make the difference as the place of encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. The sacraments draw us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus. We should be wary of preachings that make the gospel sound like an ordinary prosperity message. We must reflect on the meaning of this question from Jesus, “What do you wish me to do for you? by first identifying who Jesus is.


As with the sons of Zebedee, following Jesus conveys a good feeling, but it is deeper. It is about salvation and redemption for our souls. Following Jesus provides that moment of encounter with God who heals, forgives, accompanies, strengthens, and saves us. Following Jesus makes us witnesses to his life, suffering, and death, and significantly to his resurrection. Following Jesus makes us servants of each other for the sake of the gospel. Jesus already knows what we need and cares deeply for us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” If we can drink the cup with him and be baptized with the baptism with which he is baptized, then we know what we want Jesus to do for us, here on earth and hereafter. 


READINGS: 1ST- IS. 53:10-11; 2ND- HEB 4:14-16; GOSPEL- MK. 10:35-45

 

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