St. Luke’s Institute
Wednesday 2nd Lent
February 27, 2013
“CUP” FOR JAMES &
JOHN ++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
It’s on his way to Jerusalem that Jesus is
stopped by the mother of Zebedee’s sons, James and John, to ask a strange favor
Ø
That in the Kingdom each of her sons sits, one
on God’s right and the other on God’s left
Ø
Jesus uses occasion to say that anyone who’s his
follow must drink the cup of suffering, the same cup for which he’s going to
Jerusalem
Ø
“Yes, we
can they say”
Ø
“Yes, you
will, he assures them” but where one sits in the Kingdom isn’t for him to
give
Ø
And the journey continues
“CUP” FOR JESUS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Once in Jerusalem, it is in the Garden of
Gethsemane where the “cup” comes up again
Ø
This time it’s Jesus’ turn to “drink” it and he
is filled with dread, so much so he asks his Father to have it pass from him
Ø
It seems that the tables of turned and what he
spoke to James and John, he must now face himself
“CUP” IN INTELLECT
VERSES EXPERIENCE ++++++++++
Ø
As his followers, we hear and know of the cup in
our intellect
Ø
But now we must confront it in real life where
we feel pain, suffering, condemnation, mocking, and yes, a kind of crucifixion
Ø
Is it a consolation that James and John had it
only as an intellectual understanding up here (head)?
Ø
Is it a consolation that Jesus could talk about
it and then want it taken from him?
Ø
Is it a consolation that in our confrontation of
the pain here in our heart, that giving ourselves over to it will bring an
administering angel, a salve, a balm from God very self?
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
The question remains largely an intellectual
reality, but we need to be careful to not answer it too adroitly
Ø
For answering it from our pain and sorrow will
be another matter
Ø
Let us count on the consolations of Jesus when
that time comes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
