by Rev. Herbert Nichols

The problem of suffering and pain in a world created by a provident and loving God has been an issue for every believer in every religion since the beginning of time. The first reading from Isaiah is the final of four Songs of the Suffering Servant, to which the Jews of the time had already attached a messianic interpretation. In the Letter to Hebrews we go one step further to identify the servant with the role of High Priest, making Him both exalted and approachable.

It may be one of the greatest challenges to Christianity to accept Jesus as a dying Messiah and servant. We know it intellectually from our catechism, but unless we also know it in our hearts, we tend to make Him far more "up there". We tend to like our god distant, yet dignified.

Taking a closer look we find in the first two readings a balance and equilibrium and strength as we strive to continue in the journey of discipleship. The opening words of Isaiah are frightening: the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. God was pleased! To crush?

This first reading is part of a prophecy in which Isaiah sets forth with amazing insight that suffering is a way to salvation. In the second reading where it seems that suffering and exaltation are in collision, we are told that God does not ride on the clouds but passed through the heavens to be like us in every way that we are, affecting the salvation of the world and then returning to the throne of grace.

The readings challenge and give hope to the many who have become inactive or alienated from the Church, because they can find no value in suffering, or why a good God would allow it. Some are able to see suffering only as punishment for sin and irreconcilable guilt and it is a very loud voice challenging the gospel today.

We read of the sons of Zebedee, their family name. Jesus referred to them as sons of Boranges (Thunder) for their often volatile emotional displays. It would seem from this passage today that they cared only in sharing in the triumph of Jesus with little concern for the difficulties and inevitable suffering he would first encounter.

Jesus remained remarkably calm and patient and gave them His full attention. He inquired as to the assessment of their courage to which they pledged their loyalty to whatever adversity might come before them along the way to their coveted thrones.

But Jesus caught them off guard, assuring them that there would be more than enough adversity to go around. He promises that they will share his journey and his reward, but what the final disposition will be is reserved to the Father.

In the second part of this narrative the theme of service is extended to ministry. It broadens to include also the indignant disciples who reveal their own lack of understanding of true discipleship. They were indignant because they were envious.

Clearly annoyed that some should make out better than others. Are we not all in this together? Perhaps but are we all in it to same degree of faithfulness? That is what the Father knows.

Jesus makes it clear that the Father, the mark of greatness, the coveted rewards will go those who serve. The leader, the minister, the priest is the one who serves, giving up his/her life in service for others. Neither James, John, nor any of the others were expecting Jesus’ answer to be so consuming.

We are also invited to share the cup, but how many times do we pass it up, even literally, let alone symbolically, perhaps for the fear of germs which might cause disease and suffering. And how many others pass up the opportunity to walk the path or even to talk the story because it would take us out of our way or inconvenience us from some fleeting attraction.

The gospel tells us, like James and John, we will need to adjust our focus from rewards and thrones to companionship and compassion, from a god above to god around us. As we share, we not only assist in the needs of others, but are mutually rewarded as well