Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Fathers Kenny G, Simon S, & Conrad S
@ Father Pius Poff's 50th anniversary
celebration.

The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem,

and Jesus went ahead of them.
They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.


In the gospel of Saint Mark Jesus predicts his coming ordeal in Jerusalem three times. In the scriptures the number three usually implies fullness or completeness. More than just the number of times this occurred, the number suggests that, in private with his disciples, Jesus was continually aware – perhaps preoccupied – with the approaching crisis in Jerusalem. In fact, every incident in the Saint Mark’s gospel is overshadowed by the cross. We hear of no carefree, pleasant Sabbath afternoons in which Jesus frolicked with children or played croquet with his cronies. 

Also, following every prediction of his passion in Saint Mark's Gospel, Jesus instructs his followers on the meaning of discipleship. The word no longer means one is simply a student of Jesus; it means total availability to others. Jesus’ suffering and death are the ultimate example of service. To be his disciples, nothing less than total self-sacrifice is satisfactory. In today’s gospel, he tells them:

…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

Just as his mission to Jerusalem absorbed his attention, so should ministry to others consume ours.

Today’s set of stories about Jesus prediction, preoccupation and teaching begins with the statement: They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.

The reader might ask, “What were they amazed about? What were they afraid of? What was going on to stir such intense feelings?”

But I think Saint Mark uses their sense of wonder and fear to create the setting for Jesus' teaching. Wonder and fear are the appropriate reactions to an epiphany, when God appears. They describe the right disposition or posture to assume when a teaching is forthcoming. They are like Abraham’s hineneh – Here I am! I am ready to hear whatever you might say; I am at your service. Or, as Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me as you have said.”

This is why we begin each day with a morning offering, and end each day with gratitude. Seeing how absorbed Jesus was in his ministry, and how intense was his sacrifice, we want to give nothing less. Even our recreation – and Jesus surely did recreate though Mark never mentions it – we do so as servants and disciples of Jesus, fully confident that God enjoys our pleasure as much and more than we do.