Mt. 20, 20 – 28: “Can you drink the cup.....”
(Priests in competition and dominance)
Fr. Mervyn Carapiet
As we see Jesus going up to
Jerusalem, he turns to each one of us and asks: “Can you drink the cup that I
must drink?” Today’s world tells us that we don’t need to drink it, because it
denies and disowns that Christ-attitude towards suffering and sacrifice. The
message of the media, which is constantly invading our senses and trying to
persuade our minds, is this: Go through life with the maximum quantum of
pleasure and the minimum amount of pain. All suffering must be shunned.
Desensitise yourself with drinks and drugs. You only go around once. Grab all
you can, and don’t be responsible for anything to anyone.
To some extent all of us have
bought into this “good times” philosophy of life, which pretends to change this
“valley of tears” into a “valley of Valium” or Prozac and other drugs for
instant happiness. Now-a-days words like “obedience”, “self-denial”,
“commitment”, and “accountability” have become unmentionable words. Now the
mentality of governments, parents and many church leaders is “throw gifts, food,
money, anything at them, but keep them happy!”
Over and above the smoke of
our dreams and delusions stands the loving but lonely figure of Jesus. In back
of him, casting a long shadow, is a tall cross, and his question, “Can you
drink the cup that I am going to drink?” To most of the people in the world the
cross is a stumbling block, a madness to be avoided. But to us who believe that
there is in suffering the challenge of metanoia, the invitation to life
transformation and personal growth, suffering is a valuable teacher.
Taking his disciples aside,
Jesus predicts for the third time the fate awaiting him when he arrives
Jerusalem. Clearly and emphatically he reveals that he will be handed over,
subject to mockery, cruelty and brutal execution. He concludes with confident
conviction that he will rise from the dead.
Into this profound moment breaks not more enquiry or even humble
adoration but pride, manoeuvring and selfish ambition. James and John looking
for status, recognition and power in his kingdom. Where there should be sadness
over an impending death there is ambition for worldly preferment.
Is it true that today’s
priests are engaged in competition; they want power and authority and such
things to dominate others, like the two Zebedee brothers? Jesus seems to be
telling us that we must love persons and use things; not the
other way about: use persons and love things. Jesus seems to be saying: don’t
ever give your heart away to a thing. If you do, then that thing, whatever it
may be, will gradually become your master. It will own you and lead you around
like on the leash of addiction. Worrying about it will keep you anxious and
awake at night. But, worst of all, if you give your heart to a thing, you will
soon begin the great inversion of priorities. When you begin to love things,
you start to use persons to get those things. If you give your heart away to
the things of this world, you will soon begin competing with others to get all
you can. Competition among priests has left so many unhappy and dissatisfied.
If you choose to run down this road, you will be tempted to cheat, bring down
others, and cut corners on your integrity. What unnecessary turmoil, in the
midst of which there is the clear summons of Jesus, “Whoever does not carry his
cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14,27).
There is no other way to maturity, wisdom and
fullness of life. And we must stake our lives on the surrender of faith that
the cross of our duty always demands.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, set us free from seeking the
approval of others. Purify our motives as we seek to draw closer to your Son,
Jesus. Teach us about true greatness in your kingdom. Give us a heart and
disposition that want to serve and not to be served, to love more than to be
loved, and to give more than to receive. Amen.
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