A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
This passage describes the miracle of the budding staff. The Israelites were complaining and arguing about who should succeed Moses as the leader of the Israelites. In order to resolve this dispute, God asked Moses to obtain a staff from each of the twelve ancestral houses. Each staff would represent the head of a house. Moses then placed the staffs in the tent of meeting before the covenant, where God met with his people. The staff of the man whom God chose to succeed Moses as a leader of Israel would sprout. When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs and each house was able to see their staff. It was clear to everyone that Aaron would succeed Moses. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Put back the staff of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept as a warning to rebels, so that you may make an end of their complaints against me, or else they will die." What conflicts have arisen among us? In what ways have we complained or argued about our leadership? How are we attempting to resolve the conflicts among us? Are we ready and willing to accept the leaders that God places over us despite our selfish desires to be leaders ourselves?
Do you ever get tired of living upto worldly expectations? Are you ever frustrated having to justify your thoughts, words and deeds to others even when you have the best of intentions? It has often been said that - “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Even when we try to meet the expectations of others or aim to do right, we can fall short and face the criticism of condemnation of others. This passage reminds us that we are recipients of God’s grace which covers a multitude of our sins and restores our hope when we struggle. We, who have obtained access to God’s grace, must realize that we are justified by faith and that we can experience peace as we abide in God’s promises. With a clean heart and clear conscience, we must freely live our life and be who we are called to be. We must not let the opinions of others overwhelm us or drown us in a sea of fear and anxiety. When we share in the glory of God, we are able to boast not only in what we hope for but also in our sufferings. Christ has shown us that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. We know that the love of God never fails. Therefore, we can confidently invite love, not hate, to guide our thoughts, words, and deeds. There will be times when we are weak and we will struggle. However, it is then that we must remember that God proved his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son. How much more then, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? If God is with us, then who can be against us? Trust that no weapon fashioned against you will stand.
In this passage Jesus informs the disciples that he will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, handed over to be mocked, flogged and crucified. Jesus assured them that on the third day he would be raised from the dead but this news must have been shocking to the disciples. They had given up everything to follow Jesus, and now their leader was going to die. Against this gloomy backdrop of events, the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked Jesus to declare that her two sons will sit, one at his right hand and one at his left in his kingdom. I cannot even begin to imagine what might have gone through Jesus’ head. He had just shared with his disciples the news of his looming death, and this woman’s response seems so out of place. What an awkward request at the most inopportune time? Have you ever shared your heart with someone and felt like they did not take your sharing seriously? Sometimes people are so wrapped up in their own agendas that they fail to hear us, see us, or understand us. Jesus responded to this mother by pointing out - "You do not know what you are asking.” Jesus knew that all too often people are eager to wear the crown of victory without necessarily understanding the cross of suffering that comes before. There is no crown without a cross. Not only did the sons of Zebedee fail to understand Jesus' journey to the cross, but they also caused the other ten disciples to become angry. The other disciples could not believe that the sons of Zebedee were jockeying for the prime position in Jesus’ kingdom. In what ways have we put personal accolades and achievements before the team? Have we ever become angry when others attempted to get the best life had to offer while leaving us the crumbs? Jesus reminded the disciples and he reminds us that whoever wishes to be great among us must be our servant, and whoever wishes to be first among us must be our slave. This is what Christ modeled for us. Jesus came not to be served but to serve; he gave his life as a ransom for many. What sacrifices have we made for the team? Does our leadership style aim to profit us personally or does it seek to place the needs of the team above and beyond our own?
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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