Fifth Sunday of the Great Fast 2023 Leave-Taking of the Feast of the Annunciation. Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

Title

Following Christ is about Sacrifice

Outline

A lot of people turn to Christianity for benefits

They want healing or health or happiness

They want contact with the numinous

They want meaning or purpose in life

And while these are not totally misdirected, they are found in a different orientation

Hebrews talks about where the Messiah went

He went into and through (to the inner chamber) “the greater and more perfect tent” - the heavenly one

He went into the “Holy Place” (Holy of Holies) carrying a sacrifice: “his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption”

He had offered himself: “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

His life was ultimately about sacrifice for the benefit of others and then he sat in rule at the right hand of God the Father (to use the image)

Our Gospel explains what this means for us

Jesus is headed to Jerusalem and the disciples are filled with foreboding at his determined march upwards

He picks up on this and explains to them for the third time exactly what their forebodings were about: arrest, trial, crucifixion, death - and then resurrection. The disciples do not get it, perhaps due to fear (= denial), and think about him ruling in Jerusalem.

Two of his inner circle come to him asking for a favor, namely to be joined with him in his glorious rule: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Jesus says, quite truly, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Are you prepared to be joined to me in my suffering for others? That is what is means to follow me.

They, of course, say, “Yes,” for they are likely thinking of great battles.

He grants their request for discipleship, to be joined to him, to follow him, but adds that sitting with him in glory determined by the Father: “The chalice that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” In Catholic tradition this person is the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos.

Notice that the rest of the disciples are jealous

They want those seats, they think that James and John stole a march on them. So it will ever be when we think of position in the church in terms of power and honor.

That, says Jesus, is how unbelievers, the world around us, thinks of status and position.

But that is not the way of the followers of Jesus: “But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus, the greatest in the Kingdom, came to serve to the extent of giving his life for others. His followers must do the same.

That is precisely what Cardinal DiNardo thanked my wife for when I was ordained priest.

Brothes and Sisters, this turns our world upside down.

We are called to follow Christ, some in this position and some in that. But the greater the role the more self-sacrificial it is.

Look at even a small community: servers serve others

Deacons are conformed to Christ as the first rank of ordination and therefore the very name “deacon” means service to others.

Priests are conformed to Christ in the next rank, and therefore they are “elders” or “leaders in sacrificial service, not just at the altar, but in all of life

Everywhere one looks in the New Testament one is exhorted to give one’s life for the other in the name of and in conformity to Christ.

Parents do so for each other and for children and children for each other and for parents.

We are followers of Christ, and that means we give our lives for others in his name, for that is how we stay close to Christ and end up united with him in the coming age.

Readings

Epistle

Hebrews 9:11–14

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel

Mark 10:32–45

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise.”

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (3-26-2023: Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)

SUNDAY, March 26, 2023 | TRIODION AND GREAT LENT

Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) 3-26-2023: Fifth Sunday of Great Lent or Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt

FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT OR SUNDAY OF SAINT MARY OF EGYPT

Bright or Dark Vestments

Matins Gospel John 20:19–31 (42nd Sunday)

Epistle Hebrews 9:11–14

Gospel Mark 10:32–45