29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. By Tobe Eze

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 53:10—11

SECOND READING
Hebrews 4:14—16

GOSPEL
Mark 10:35—45

THEME: WE ALL WILL SHARE IN THE SUFFERING.

A woman met me one day and told me that she is tired of being a Christian.  I asked her why and she said.  I have been in agony for years now.  My husband is a drunkard and my children are not all that moving well in their areas of businesses. If it were when we were pagans, I would have promised one deity one or two things and things would have changed. Brother, God is inconsiderate. After listening to her, I preached to her and made her to know the kind of love God has for us, that she should just give God chance in her life and family and she will see the goodness of the Lord. Continue Reading..........

In the first reading, we can see that it is demanded of all to make sacrifices in order to achieve many good things ahead. If he 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. It demands giving sacrifice in other for the will of God to be accomplished. In this sacrifice, something greater than us is not required of us for God understands us. He knows our strong and weak points. And that appeared in the second reading.

Second reading made it clear for us to understand the type of God we have For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. It is because of this understanding that from old he has been taking care of his people.  Think of childless Abraham, how he changed his situation.  Think of Jacob and family that would have died because of famine but he sent Joseph to suffer and clear road for them.  Think of when Israelites were suffering in Egypt, he took them out of that slavery. Think of humanity that he saved through his Son.  He did not leave us like that, he appointed men and gave them power and authority to extend the good news to the ends of the earth. It is because we do not understand the kind of God we have that make us to look for what is or are not necessary and that lead(s) us to the gospel.

In the gospel, the sons of Zebedee were asking what they did not understand. They were asking Jesus to do their work for them.  Jesus on his own side asked them two other questions in order to make them understand what they were asking, but for the fact that they were clouded with the things of the world they could not understand again and Jesus gave them the final answer.  It is not in my hands to determine who will be at my right hand or left hand. This is a clear calling that it is in their own hands to drink from the same cup with Jesus and take the same baptism with him. Jesus drank the cup of suffering and received the baptism of death and resurrection.

We all are to drink the same cup and receive the same baptism.  Jesus Christ whom we follow, first suffered and died but was raised to life again, we as his followers have to do the same as our master.  We must follow him like sheep following their leader.

Jesus did not ask us to follow him so that we will not have challenges in life rather to help us overpower them when they come.  Come to me all who are overburdened and over laboured and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Going further we will see his invitation to carry his burden and his yolk. He has not promised us suffering free world.  God called us to himself through Isaiah to come to him all who are hungry and thirsty,  come and buy without money (Isaiah 55:1). The essence of buy there is to show us that we must offer something.  We must suffer with Christ to gain heaven.  If a grain does fall and die, it will not bear fruit (John 12:24-25). If we do not suffer with Christ, we will not make heaven.  THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY