YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ASKING

XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 10:35-45

Before the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went into the desert for a time of reflection and prayer. There, he was confronted with the fundamental choices he had to make to carry out his mission. What would be the best path to bring salvation and establish the Kingdom of God? In their gospels, Matthew and Luke present the three big proposals for Jesus to be the Messiah as the people of Israel expected to have. According to the devil’s proposals, the way to salvation passes through self-centredness, putting God at our service and becoming the all-powerful master of all wealth and all kingdoms of the earth. Jesus refused to go that way and chose the opposite. He came to serve, not to be served, putting his life in the service of God and humanity. He is the servant of the Lord, ready to suffer and shed his blood for our redemption. 

The disciples could not understand and were not ready to accept that such was the true path to salvation. How could suffering be the path to joy and happiness? How could death be the way to life? How could poverty lead to the well-being of all of us? How could being at the service of others lead to a new society? Was not absolute power the only way to impose peace and justice? There must be a mistake. The Grand Inquisitor (of Dostoyevsky in The Brothers Karamazov) thinks that Jesus chose the wrong path: “…then it is impossible to utter anything more truthful than what is contained in his three offers, which Thou didst reject, and which are usually called "temptations." 

Throughout history, time and again, humankind has ignored Jesus’ way to follow Satan’s proposals. The two brothers, James and John, approached Jesus to ask for a high position in his kingdom. And they were not alone in desiring prestige, glory, power and wealth; the other disciples were waiting for the same. We may say that, in this episode, we find the first signs of a power struggle among Jesus’ disciples. To the brothers’ request, Jesus answered immediately: “‘You do not know what you are asking”. Then, to all of them, Jesus gave the example of the earthly rulers who oppress their subjects. The thirst for power and wealth is not the way to the Kingdom of God and will not bring freedom, justice and peace. On the contrary, it is a source of rivalries, conflicts and wars. That’s why Jesus gives a clear command: “This is not to happen among you”. He then proposes himself as a role model: “For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”