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

Title

Sacrifice is Necessary

Outline

1. It is amazing how many people leave sacrifice out of faith

We get it in fitness and sports: “no pain no gain”

We are willing to spend lots of money for professional qualifications and put in lots of hours of work

But somehow when it comes to faith, well, God is such a softie that he would not require sacrifice

But we forget about covenant and about Jesus

2 Covenants are born of sacrifice

The two parties either mutually agree or one party may unilaterally promise to the accepting party

Then there was a sacrifice by which one of both parties took responsibilities upon themselves sealed with blood

In both the Jewish and Christian faith covenant is paramount

That is why Hebrews talks about Jesus taking his own blood into the inner sanctuary, the blood of the covenant of which he was both high priest and victim

3 As usual, the gospel brings this home in narrative

Jesus is going up to Jerusalem, and it is clear from the fear of those around him that there is going to be a showdown of some type - but he strides confidently forward

Jesus lays it out in clear terms: “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.”

But the disciples think of his ruling as Messiah and cannot hear this cognitive dissonant note

So James and John, two of the three witnesses chosen by Jesus, come and ask a favor: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” This shows the desire of the brothers not to be separated, this shows great faith that Jesus would indeed reign in glory, and this shows great ignorance of sacrifice.

Jesus asks them about sacrifice, but in symbolic terms: “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?” But they do not get it and blithely agree.

Jesus accepts their ignorant agreement, for it fit what following Jesus would mean for all: “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.” But note that he remains non-committal about the sitting at his right and left hands.

The point is that Jesus is not about rule, power, prerogatives - that is the stuff of this world - but about sacrifice, about serving others, giving himself for them: “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.”

4. This, brothers and sisters, is a call to examine ourselves

Do we realize what it cost to bring us into the kingdom? Do we realize the sacrifice involved? Meditate on Hebrews, meditate on what Jesus says is going to happen to him. That is how covenants are made.

Are we trying to follow Jesus, which means following him in self-offering, or are we trying to be like James and John and skip the way of sacrifice? Jesus will not let us get away with jumping over sacrifice, for he wants us close to him and that means joined in his sacrifice.

So do not be afraid of sacrifice, brothers and sisters, but see the cross - even your own sacrifices - as the stairway to glory, for if we embrace the cross we receive the crown.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Gregorian) 3-21-2021: Fifth Sunday of Great Lent or Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt

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 (Gregorian) 3-21-2021: Fifth Sunday of Great Lent or Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | TRIODION AND GREAT LENT

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