08/03/2023

God was never far away from the Jews of the Old Testament. As for them, they were certainly no better than we are. Backsliding was commonplace and stubbornness in resisting Good and embracing Evil seems to have been their main characteristic.

The mother of Zebedee's sons knew God whose deeds were recorded in the Scrolls and whose Temple dominated the Promised Land. She knew the deeds of the prophets and the messages they had proclaimed. For her, Jesus was another prophet but this time a greater one who would establish a Jewish, Kingdom of God, on earth.

The other ten Apostles were outraged by James and John. In their eyes the two brothers had sent their mother sneakily  to curry favourable treatment when the Kingdom was established. At this point in the New Testament nobody had really understood the Mission that Jesus was carrying out everyday in his human life on Earth. The ten who felt that they had to protest also expected some sort of high ranking postition and felt the competitive spirit that the prospect of promotion always inspires.

Our understanding of God is always far, far away from the infinite reality that he is. Jesus is true man, but a man who is true God. We can ponder that mystery but our understanding which is highly capable of manipulating matter cannot rise to the heights that is the Evergreater Being, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

In prayer the perfect man on earth was always one with the Father and so knew what he had to face in Jerusalem. It is just not possible that even Mary could anticipate the Resurrection. The Apostles are not super human their squabble in today's Gospel is just a normal human misunderstanding of their Rabbi's role on earth.

Dear Lord, stop me from babbling self-consciously and let my prayer be a heart and mind open to thee that my soul may grow in love and obedience. May Mary and all the Saints pray that we who still struggle on earth can accept your grace and thus follow your will for us.