We all have ambitions. Most of us are not satisfied with just being good enough. We want to excel and maybe even be the best, at least at something. Whether it’s having the best recipe for our family’s favorite dish or being the smartest student in the classroom or the fastest basketball player on the court or the most successful one on the team at work, it’s a natural desire to be the best. And, these ambitions are often very good. They lead us to strive to use our talents and to thrive. Of course, as with so many of our desires, it’s important to be ambitious for the right things. And, not only for good things but for the best things. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” we hear our Lord teach us. The ambitious desires expressed by James and John in today’s Gospel were not for the best things. They were for self-aggrandizement rather than for the building up of God’s kingdom.
As we all know, the people of Jesus’ time were looking for a messiah, an anointed one who would make of them a great nation as King David had done hundreds of years before. But, as we hear in today’s first reading, Jesus came as the suffering servant. He came not to make a great nation here on earth but to lead us back to God. We had gotten lost and become satisfied with the lesser goods of momentary happiness here on earth rather than the greatest good of eternal happiness with God in heaven.
Jesus came as a different kind of messiah than his people expected. It would take his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead for people to begin to understand. He is a ruler covered not with costly gems and garments, but with affliction. He is crowned not with gold, but with thorns. Jesus’ power comes not from violence or domination, but from love. And, as we hear so clearly in today’s gospel, we are called to imitate him as great ones who are eager to serve others in love. In contrast to the pressures to grasp for power, comfort, and fame, our Lord proclaims humble service. As disciples, we understand that the only path to greatness in the kingdom of God is the path of self-giving love.
This is the secret of true happiness in life. True and lasting happiness comes not by striving to be on top, but rather, in pouring ourselves out in love for others. This is admittedly a counter-cultural call, and it is not always easy. It is so tempting to be ambitious for ourselves, like James and John in today’s gospel account. So, it’s helpful to know that Jesus was tempted, too. You will recall that before he began his public ministry, he was sent into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Turning away from the devil and towards his heavenly Father, Jesus was ready to begin his mission to proclaim the gospel to the world.
At the end of his public ministry, we hear him pray in the Garden of Gethsemane as he anticipates his crucifixion. In his anguish, we hear him bargain with his father. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” In today’s passage from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told that Jesus is that high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, who has been tested in every way, yet without sin. In today’s first reading, we are encouraged to know that in every struggle and in every temptation, we can “approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help,” just as Jesus did.
We have been nourished by the saving Word of God and now prepare to be nourished by our Lord’s own sacred Body and Blood, shed for our salvation. Let us, in receiving this holy Eucharist, draw near to Jesus who pours himself out to us. Let us receive his strength so that we might be great as he is great: powerful in love, crowned by sacrifice, made holy in the giving of all we are. And on this Stewardship Weekend – you will hear more about that after communion – let us invite Jesus to rule our lives, so that our ambition will be to live in humble service, using our time, talent and treasure for the building of his kingdom here on earth until he, our great high priest, brings us with all the faithful before the throne of God.