Can you drink from this Cup?

(Homily for March 15, 2017).

Amongst the disciples of Jesus were two skilled politicians, they knew what they wanted and were not afraid to play the game of power. According to Matthew’s version of this scene, they brought their mother to request from Jesus a favour to sit by his side in heaven.

They had carefully studied Jesus to the extent that they knew he hardly refuses favours from women; Jesus worked his first miracle on the prompting of a woman – Mary; Jesus changed the life of the woman he met by the well; Jesus did not allow a woman caught in the act of adultery to be stoned to death and so on.

James and John knew their game very well and even before they came up with this request, they were already among the SPECIAL THREE. At the mount of Transfiguration, at house of the Synagogue official Jesus took only Peter, James and John.

Not only had they won Jesus’ confidence on earth, they wanted to be sure that this would remain so in heaven. It was just then that Jesus asked: “Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?”

Without any hesitation, they answered: “Yes, We are able.” I expected them to ask Jesus, “what did he mean by chalice?” But they didn’t. The Chalice that Jesus was talking about was what Jeremiah tasted in our first reading this morning.

It is the chalice of persecution, the chalice of unfounded hatred just for being righteous life or for speaking the truth. It was this chalice that John the Baptist drank when he dared to challenge Herod with his public concubinage and adultery.

It was this chalice that the prophets drank before Jesus. It was this chalice that Jesus was referring to when he said, “Blessed are you when you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness….”

Dear friends, we should never be reward-oriented when it comes to serving God. Sufferings are sure to come but whether or not we shall get seats at the right and left is not even for us to decipher. Let us just focus on how to drink the bitter chalice for now.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I never give up in the face of trials and pain for your sake. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 2^nd week of Lent. Bible Study: Jeremiah 18:18-20 and Matthew 20:17-28).