Beloved friends in Christ,
"The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized," Jesus says to his disciples, who seek to share in the glory of Christ's kingdom. On the one hand, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, misunderstood the purpose and nature of leadership, and Jesus had to educate them on the suffering servant leadership model. On the other hand, Jesus taught about suffering as the path to a share in the glory of Christ's kingdom. To share in the glory of the Lord, a follower of Christ must be willing to drink the cup He drinks and be baptized in the baptism in which He is baptized.
What do this cup and baptism entail? Drinking the cup symbolizes God's judgment. In the Old Testament, the wicked must drink the cup of punishment for their sins. But Jesus has come to take our place, to drink this cup of punishment for sin and be immersed, that is, baptized, in the suffering that should rightly be ours to bear. Jesus would fulfill the promise of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 by giving his life as an offering for our sins in the manner of Israel's priest, who offered sacrifices for the sins of the people. As we read in Hebrews 4, Jesus, the high priest, has been tested in every way and willingly "give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45) and has delivered us from sin and death, offering himself as a model for us to follow.
Are we willing to follow in his footsteps? As today's epistle to the Hebrews encourages us, let us "hold fast to our confession" in the supernatural merit and rewards of Christ's suffering; they are redemptive. Therefore, in our daily trials and sufferings, we must see portions of the cup Jesus said we should drink. Pauline's epistle to Colossians 1:24 reminds us that Jesus promised believers to share "in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church."
When we approach the altar this Sunday to receive the body and blood of Jesus, let us do so with the awareness that in our baptism, we have been immersed in Christ's passion and death and that the chalice we drink is His saving blood. Jesus, who calls us to share in his baptism and cup, knows our limited human nature and will fortify us with sufficient grace to bear our crosses cheerfully and with dignity. Let your sufferings as Christians not be in vain; see in them a participation in the victorious passion of Jesus Christ. Kiss and embrace the sacred wounds of Jesus and draw strength to last you through daily temptation and suffering.
On this World Mission Sunday, let us remember to assist and pray for those who sacrifice their lives in the selfless service of those in mission territories, especially those in the peripheries, as Pope Francis often describes them. Our monetary contribution should correspond to a significant participation in the cup of Salvation Jesus offered on behalf of souls in the mission land.
In Christ Crucified,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
"The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized," Jesus says to his disciples, who seek to share in the glory of Christ's kingdom. On the one hand, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, misunderstood the purpose and nature of leadership, and Jesus had to educate them on the suffering servant leadership model. On the other hand, Jesus taught about suffering as the path to a share in the glory of Christ's kingdom. To share in the glory of the Lord, a follower of Christ must be willing to drink the cup He drinks and be baptized in the baptism in which He is baptized.
What do this cup and baptism entail? Drinking the cup symbolizes God's judgment. In the Old Testament, the wicked must drink the cup of punishment for their sins. But Jesus has come to take our place, to drink this cup of punishment for sin and be immersed, that is, baptized, in the suffering that should rightly be ours to bear. Jesus would fulfill the promise of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 by giving his life as an offering for our sins in the manner of Israel's priest, who offered sacrifices for the sins of the people. As we read in Hebrews 4, Jesus, the high priest, has been tested in every way and willingly "give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45) and has delivered us from sin and death, offering himself as a model for us to follow.
Are we willing to follow in his footsteps? As today's epistle to the Hebrews encourages us, let us "hold fast to our confession" in the supernatural merit and rewards of Christ's suffering; they are redemptive. Therefore, in our daily trials and sufferings, we must see portions of the cup Jesus said we should drink. Pauline's epistle to Colossians 1:24 reminds us that Jesus promised believers to share "in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church."
When we approach the altar this Sunday to receive the body and blood of Jesus, let us do so with the awareness that in our baptism, we have been immersed in Christ's passion and death and that the chalice we drink is His saving blood. Jesus, who calls us to share in his baptism and cup, knows our limited human nature and will fortify us with sufficient grace to bear our crosses cheerfully and with dignity. Let your sufferings as Christians not be in vain; see in them a participation in the victorious passion of Jesus Christ. Kiss and embrace the sacred wounds of Jesus and draw strength to last you through daily temptation and suffering.
On this World Mission Sunday, let us remember to assist and pray for those who sacrifice their lives in the selfless service of those in mission territories, especially those in the peripheries, as Pope Francis often describes them. Our monetary contribution should correspond to a significant participation in the cup of Salvation Jesus offered on behalf of souls in the mission land.
In Christ Crucified,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
RSS Feed