Heaven is Not Cheap: Are You Willing to Pay the Price?

Sunday, 20 October 2024. Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11, Ps. 33:4-5,18-20,22, Hebrews 4:14-16, Mark 10:35-45

“You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” (Mark 10:38)

Once upon a time, a popular musician sang: “We all want to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” It is good to desire heaven, but the question is: “How many of us are willing to pay the price?” Last Sunday, a rich man approached Jesus with this same desire for heaven. He asked: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He wanted to know what he would do once and for all so that heaven would be allotted to him as an inheritance at the end of his life. Jesus began by telling him of the commandments, which the rich man said: “All these I have observed since my youth.” This man knew that keeping God’s commandments alone did not guarantee heaven.

Jesus looked at him with love and said: “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21). It was at this point that the man walked away sorrowfully. Jesus said, “Those who love and trust in their earthly riches will find it extremely difficult to enter heaven.” Peter asked Jesus: “What about us who have left everything to follow you?” Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time … and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30).

James and John, like the rich man who wanted to know how to inherit eternal life, came to Jesus seeking double assurance. Knowing that Jesus is God who never promises and fails, James and John wanted Jesus to promise them not just heaven but also the greatest seats in heaven, at the left and right of Jesus. This brings us to our lessons for today:

1. Heaven is Not Cheap: It is only for those willing to pay the Price
Once upon a time, Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a “treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then, in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Jesus repeated: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46). Heaven is a great treasure; it is not cheap. It comes at a price that may demand letting go of everything we have. When James and John brought their request to Jesus, Jesus did not rebuke them for making such a bold request; rather, Jesus asked: Can you drink the cup that I drink?

2. What is the Price of Heaven?
The Price of heaven is simple: Keep God’s commandments. This was Jesus’ instruction to the rich man Last Sunday. We would only enter heaven if we keep God’s commandments. We cannot dwell eternally with God, whom we have rebelled against by disobedience on earth. James and John, like the rich man, had faithfully kept God’s commandments.

The second step is detachment. The entrance into heaven is like the “Eye of a Needle.” We cannot pass through this gate with our luggage. We must drop everything behind and sacrifice our love for the world to enter heaven. While the rich man walked away sorrowfully, James and John left their father, Zebedee, and their lucrative fishing business behind when Jesus called them. (Matthew 4:21-22). They did what that rich man was not willing to do.

Today, Jesus mentions a third step – the sacrifice of one’s very life for the good of others. Jesus asked James and John, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?” (Mark 10:38). For us to get a clear picture of what Jesus was talking about, let us listen to what Isaiah says in today’s first reading: “It was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin.” (Isaiah 53:10) In other words, Jesus was asking them, “Are you willing to be bruised, to be put to grief, and suffer just like me?”

Dear friends, let us place ourselves in the shoes of James and John and listen to Jesus asking us the same question. No wonder Jesus would say: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35).

3. Since Jesus Suffered and Died for Me, Why Must I Suffer?
Jesus knew He would pay the ultimate Price for our salvation. Why did he ask James and John if they would drink the cup? The fact that Jesus suffered and died for us does not eliminate suffering in our lives. Do not be deceived by the Gospel of Prosperity; the Gospel of relax, enjoy your life, reject any suffering and throw away the cross. Jesus knew what he was saying when he told us that anyone who wants to follow his steps must deny himself and take up his cross.

Jesus never said that we would not suffer; rather, Jesus said that if we suffered for His sake, we would gain eternal life. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:10-12).

By dying on the cross, Jesus did not take away our suffering. Instead, He taught us how to suffer, forgive those who sin against us, love our neighbours as ourselves, and not give up even when we fall under the weight of the cross. This is what our second reading today from the book of Hebrews teaches us. “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).

On the night of His Last Supper, after Jesus had washed the feet of the Apostles, He said to them: “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, you should also do as I have done to you.” (John 13:13-15). By asking if James and John were willing to drink the cup, Jesus asked if they would imitate Him in serving others. We suffer not to replace Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary but to follow His good example in living our lives for the benefit of others.

4. The Key to Greatness is to Serve
When Jesus asked James and John if they would drink the cup and be baptised with His baptism, they quickly responded: “We are able.” James and John assumed heaven was like the Roman Empire, and such seats translated to superiority over the other disciples. James and John desired to outsmart the other ten disciples. A few Sundays ago, we read how Jesus prophesied that He would be killed but rise again on the third day. Mark tells us that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying and were too afraid to ask Him. (Mark 9:32). They were too afraid to ask Him because earlier on, Peter tried only for Jesus to say to him: “Get behind me, Satan” (Mark 8:33). Since no one was willing to challenge Jesus anymore, they started arguing among themselves who was the greatest.

Jesus knew they were arguing but kept quiet till they got home. Then He said to them: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). Jesus even took a child and put him in the midst of them, saying: “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” (Mark 9:37) Unfortunately, the disciples continued to argue about who was the greatest among them.

The move by James and John to ask for those seats was a clever way to win the argument and prove to others that they were superior. This is why the other disciples were indignant of James and John. When Jesus understood what was going on, He realised there was a need to remind the disciples of what He had earlier taught them: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43-44).

Dear friends, what is your idea of greatness? Do you dream of becoming a lord over others so you can oppress them, treat people like they are nothing, deny them their basic human rights, or make them worship you? It means you have yet to learn from Christ. To be great is to serve others just like Christ, who came not to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many. Greatness is not about superiority.

5. 2024 World Mission Sunday
Today, we celebrate World Mission Sunday. Pope Francis’ theme for this Sunday is: “Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet.” (Matthew 22:9). Mission Sunday reminds us that the Church is ‘missionary’ and we are called to be missionaries worldwide. The Church’s evangelising mission is announcing God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. As the master instructed the servants to invite everyone they could find to the son’s wedding, we are called today to invite everyone to the Lord’s banquet. How do we invite people to this banquet? 1) by spreading the Word of God by word of mouth or through social media, 2) By living an exemplary and transparent Christian life, and 3) by financial support. It is often said: “Some give to the Mission by going, but others go to the Mission by giving”.

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, help us to choose you above the world. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Isaiah 53:10-11, Ps. 33:4-5,18-20,22, Hebrews 4:14-16, Mark 10:35-45).

@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu