Oct 6, 2024 Written by 

The front row, or the anti-ambition

Choice of the Chalice

(Mk 10:35-45)

 

Mark writes his Gospel in the year of the four Caesars (68-69). In simplicity, it reflects emergencies or tensions, even in the community.

Despite the fact that Nero's persecution has been over for a few years, immediately the believers return to fight among themselves to be "big" and in first place.

Within the Roman church the contest of excelling starts again. Here is the cue of the Gospel call.

To be revered, hunger for prominence, better to count than to be counted? Place of honour is the last.

Alternative is: a religion that produces and reiterates distances, or the life of humility-coexistence marked by sympathy for the less entitled.

In this way, the person of Faith is recognised and characterised by human fulfilment, which resembles God.

 

In the Gospels, the «Son of Man» (vv.33.45) is an icon of transmissible holiness, a living Sanctuary from which divine compassion radiates.

'Son of man' is he who, having reached the peak of human fullness, comes to reflect the divine condition and deploys it widely - not selectively [as expected].

"Successful Son": the Person with the definitive step, who in us aspires to convivial expansion, to an indestructible carat within each one who approaches - and encounters divine marks.

It is growth and humanisation of the people: the quiet, transparent and complete fruit of the divine project on humanity.

In the icon of the «Son of Man» the evangelists wish to reveal and trigger the triumph of the human over the inhuman; the progressive disappearance of everything that blocks the communication of full existence.

 

Here are the two opposing orientations of life.

On the one hand, the custom of prevailing-enslaving, perpetuating the ancient world; then demanding, getting ahead, demanding with harsh language; so on.

It is a different matter to support people to dilate life and esteem themselves, discovering their Calling, what conforms and is beautiful to them; encouraging them to mature the Dream they cultivate.

In Jesus' proposal, celestial Glory is identified with what is a source of fulfilment for all, not only for the well-introduced [deaf by ambition].

Because if the external papier-mâché castles are ecstatic and still leave us open-mouthed, in history the presumptuous suddenly become chaff in the wind; they have no weight, they do not last.

But the disease of honour places does not heal.

The fever of being revered and seeming first in class does not subside, in fact it becomes madness; and the head still does not change.

Always striving for the climb, the line of regard - and achieving spaces. Measure of a way of conceiving.

 

«Son of Man» is therefore not a “religious” or selective title, but a possibility for all those who allow themselves to be drawn into the humanity of Christ.

He is not the archetype of a pyramid authority, attentive to balance and strategic points.

In this way, the holders of prestigious roles are only «considered» (v.42) leaders.

Such dynamics do not belong to the community of the Sons - marked by sharing the 'choice of the Chalice' (v.39): the anti-ambition.

In short, Christ reaffirms that God's authentic enemy is not imperfection, nor limitation - or even the apparent ruin of one's prestige - but an entirely internal demon.

The counterpart of the Lord is the desire to get on the board of life and be served by others, out of power intoxication.

 

In the icon of the «Son of Man» the evangelists wish to reveal and trigger the triumph of the human over the inhuman; the progressive disappearance of everything that blocks the communication of full existence.

Exactly. The Lord disdains the model of satraps.

 

 

[29th Sunday in O.T.  (Mk 10:35-45)  October 20, 2024]

848 Last modified on Sunday, 20 October 2024 12:15
don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

Are we disposed to let ourselves be ceaselessly purified by the Lord, letting Him expel from us and the Church all that is contrary to Him? (Pope Benedict)
Siamo disposti a lasciarci sempre di nuovo purificare dal Signore, permettendoGli di cacciare da noi e dalla Chiesa tutto ciò che Gli è contrario? (Papa Benedetto)
Jesus makes memory and remembers the whole history of the people, of his people. And he recalls the rejection of his people to the love of the Father (Pope Francis)
Gesù fa memoria e ricorda tutta la storia del popolo, del suo popolo. E ricorda il rifiuto del suo popolo all’amore del Padre (Papa Francesco)
Today, as yesterday, the Church needs you and turns to you. The Church tells you with our voice: don’t let such a fruitful alliance break! Do not refuse to put your talents at the service of divine truth! Do not close your spirit to the breath of the Holy Spirit! (Pope Paul VI)
Oggi come ieri la Chiesa ha bisogno di voi e si rivolge a voi. Essa vi dice con la nostra voce: non lasciate che si rompa un’alleanza tanto feconda! Non rifiutate di mettere il vostro talento al servizio della verità divina! Non chiudete il vostro spirito al soffio dello Spirito Santo! (Papa Paolo VI)
Sometimes we try to correct or convert a sinner by scolding him, by pointing out his mistakes and wrongful behaviour. Jesus’ attitude toward Zacchaeus shows us another way: that of showing those who err their value, the value that God continues to see in spite of everything (Pope Francis)
A volte noi cerchiamo di correggere o convertire un peccatore rimproverandolo, rinfacciandogli i suoi sbagli e il suo comportamento ingiusto. L’atteggiamento di Gesù con Zaccheo ci indica un’altra strada: quella di mostrare a chi sbaglia il suo valore, quel valore che continua a vedere malgrado tutto (Papa Francesco)
Deus dilexit mundum! God observes the depths of the human heart, which, even under the surface of sin and disorder, still possesses a wonderful richness of love; Jesus with his gaze draws it out, makes it overflow from the oppressed soul. To Jesus, therefore, nothing escapes of what is in men, of their total reality, in which good and evil are (Pope Paul VI)
Deus dilexit mundum! Iddio osserva le profondità del cuore umano, che, anche sotto la superficie del peccato e del disordine, possiede ancora una ricchezza meravigliosa di amore; Gesù col suo sguardo la trae fuori, la fa straripare dall’anima oppressa. A Gesù, dunque, nulla sfugge di quanto è negli uomini, della loro totale realtà, in cui sono il bene e il male (Papa Paolo VI)
People dragged by chaotic thrusts can also be wrong, but the man of Faith perceives external turmoil as opportunities
Un popolo trascinato da spinte caotiche può anche sbagliare, ma l’uomo di Fede percepisce gli scompigli esterni quali opportunità
O Lord, let my faith be full, without reservations, and let penetrate into my thought, in my way of judging divine things and human things (Pope Paul VI)
O Signore, fa’ che la mia fede sia piena, senza riserve, e che essa penetri nel mio pensiero, nel mio modo di giudicare le cose divine e le cose umane (Papa Paolo VI)
«Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it; but he who loses will keep it alive» (Lk 17:33)
«Chi cercherà di conservare la sua vita, la perderà; ma chi perderà, la manterrà vivente» (Lc 17,33)
«E perciò, si afferma, a buon diritto, che egli [s. Francesco d’Assisi] viene simboleggiato nella figura dell’angelo che sale dall’oriente e porta in sé il sigillo del Dio vivo» (FF 1022)

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