Often we think of God as someone who helps us get everything we need. The great parent in the sky.
The Responsorial Psalm says it well: “See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death.” (Responsorial Psalm)
If so, then James and John are right to say the following to their teacher:
“We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”They rush up to Jesus (Gospel). with their petition. This seems a bit blunt, doesn’t it, like children making deals. Jesus replies mildly, “What do you wish me to do for you?”
“Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
Is this a good request? Or maybe it is more a demand. And it comes immediately after—and I mean in the very next line—after he has predicted the passion. He says,
The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise. (Mark 10:33-34).
Hearing this, the apostles do what you and I are tempted to do when we hear bad news. They change the subject!
Jesus responds that they too must drink the cup that he will drink, or in other words, also must undergo pain.
He himself begged God to take the cup of suffering away, and when he was asking, he used the term, “Abba,” a familiar form of “father,” (Mark 14:36). And in another place,
during the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission (Hebrews 5:7).
He was heard?
What? God heard these fiery prayers and then sat by idly while the passion and cruel death went right along?
Such observations put us directly in front of the terrible question, the one that has plagued humankind since the beginning. Why does a trustworthy, loving, parental God allow suffering and catastrophe even when he has heard in detail the prayers of those about to be afflicted?
Loss, death and suffering certainly seem to be the worst that could happen to a human being. Maybe so, but still worse would be loss of love’s groundwork, which is the never-ending relation to God.
If [my servant] gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days. (First Reading)
Does suffering stretch and widen all human souls, even that of the Servant of God, Jesus? He calls it “the greatest love” there is: i.e., knowing God, acting on behalf of others, letting in that which is greater than death or life: love.
God’s love stays even when life does not.
If this is true, then God’s love is parental after all. He loves us through the worst in order to show what the best really is.
