29th Sunday of the Year, B/World Mission Sunday – October 20, 2024.
Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Hebrews 4:14-16 & Mark 10:35-45 Or Mark 10:42-45.
The first reading reveals how the suffering servant “gives his life as an offering for sin.” The second reading stresses that the faithful should hold fast to their faith. The reading reveals that we have a high priest who is able to sympathise with our weaknesses. In the gospel, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus to ask for a favour to sit on His right and His left. Jesus maintains that whoever wishes to be first must be slave of all. The liturgy urges us to embrace the mission in its entirety while warning against taking shortcuts. It also urges us to endure persecution and embrace servant-leadership. On World Mission Sunday, we recall Saint John Paul II’s timeless saying: “Some people give to the missions by going, others go to the missions by giving.
Introduction
Friends in Christ, our liturgy today challenges us on the need to avoid shortcuts as we journey towards heaven. The readings point us to the suffering servant as a prelude to Jesus, servant-leader par excellence who empathises with his brothers and sisters in their weakness and ultimately lays down his life for his sheep. In his 98 World Mission Sunday, titled “Go invite everyone to the banquet,” Pope Francis invites us irrespective of tribe, colour or geographical location to be missionaries bearing in mind by Saint John Paul II: “Some people give to the missions by going, others go to the missions by giving.
Background & Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Is. 53:10-11) reveals how the suffering servant “gives his life as an offering for sin.” It further states that “Because of his affliction, he shall see the light in fullness of days.” The text empathically explains that “through his suffering” He shall “justify many, and bear their guilt.”
The second reading (Hebrews 4:14-16) stresses that the faithful should hold fast to their faith. Typical of the paradoxical hero that He is, the reading reveals that we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. It maintains that He has been “tested in every way, yet without sin.”
In the gospel (Mk 10:42-45), James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus to ask for a favour to sit on His right and His left. We are told that Jesus further asked whether they could drink the cup He would drink. They answered in the affirmative. However, Jesus insists that this is not His to grant “but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Because the other Apostles felt that James and John wanted to occupier a higher position, they became indignant with them.
Jesus seized the opportunity to warn them not to seek recognition like Gentile-rulers who always lord it over their people by making their authority felt. “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant” He insisted. Jesus noted that whoever wishes to be first must be slave of all. He surmised that “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Pastoral Lessons
- Lay Down Your Life for Others: In a world where people eschew suffering but are attracted to vain pleasure, both the first reading and gospel charge us to emulate the suffering servant and Christ who do not seek their own profit but lay down their lives as a ransom for many.
- Empathise with the Vulnerable: Since we have a high priest who sympathises with our weaknesses as the second reading relates, we are encouraged to help and empathise with all vulnerable people even as we improve social conditions and embark on other mission endeavours such as providing health care and education, engaging in catechetical work, and building of churches/chapels, and Religious Communities.
- Hold Fast to the Faith: In the face of Christian persecution across the world, Christians are charged to “hold fast to our faith” in imitation of Jesus, the leader of our faith.
- Pray for Persecuted Christians: We are urged to pray for Christians who are persecuted even as we ask the Holy Spirit to help us drink the cup of suffering or accept the baptism of blood should it come our way bearing in mind Jesus’ warning about the danger of shortcuts.
- Embrace Servant-leadership: The imperative “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant” calls us to embrace Jesus’ servant-leadership in line with the pastoral and evangelising demands of World Mission Sunday.
Summary Lines
- The first reading reveals how the suffering servant “gives his life as an offering for sin.”
- The second reading stresses that the faithful should hold fast to their faith.
- The reading reveals that we have a high priest who is able to sympathise with our weaknesses.
- In the gospel, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus to ask for a favour to sit on His right and His left.
- Jesus noted that whoever wishes to be first must be slave of all.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our liturgy cautions both secular and religious leaders to distance themselves from lording it over people or making their authority felt like Gentile-rulers. Because the text highlights that Jesus has been “tested in every way, yet without sin,” the faithful are invited to bear the qualms of this life patiently as we await His return in glory. By coming to serve and not to be served and giving His life as a ransom for many, our liturgy invites us to imitate Christ through a willingness to sacrifice for our brothers and sisters towards making the world a better place. Always remember that for Jesus, the mission has to be complete – no shortcuts. Have a blessed week!
