Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

Drink My Cup

Outline

Tuesday, when I was officially inducted into the Knights of Columbus, I was given a paten and chalice

The reason was that two priests who had been knights had died and had of course left their personal chalices

That night two of us priests were among those being inducted, so the two chalices received new homes

Ah, yes, but it was not lost of me that there was symbolism there in someone having to die for me to share his chalice

And it fit with part of the knight’s slogan, momento mori

It also fits with our texts

The Servant “shall see his offspring” but only the Lord “making his life as a reparation offering”

“the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him.” but the means is the Lord’s crushing his Servant with pain

We talk about this with beautiful crucifixes - and we could not hang up totally realistic ones, at least not for long - but I think of the older Pope John Paul II seemingly leaning on his crozier which was topped with the well-known crucifix, as if the suffering of the Pope found strength in the suffering of Christ

Hebrews will make clear that it is a high priest who suffered who has passed through the heavens

He is like us, “one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin”

The sacrifice that he triumphantly carries is his own blood - shed for us

That brings us to Mark

James and John are among the three and as brothers want to share the two triumphal places with Jesus

The are willing to share the difficulties Jesus will share, but they probably think of them as hard-fought battles

Oh yes, says Jesus, ““The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized” - but they do not “get” either what these are or that they are asking the Servant not the Lord

They do not get that the way to the heart of God is the way of service and that Jesus would give the ultimate service, for “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

They may sin on thrones, but only after they have washed many feet and laid down their lives for others in the footsteps of Jesus

Sisters, we need to remind ourselves of this again and again

Not every priest remembers St John Vianney and many others who spent their lives tireless to their deathbeds for others - if they had a lovely chalice it was to give honor to the one whose blood it contained

Not every sister remember that St Theresa of Calcutta, St Teresa of Jesus, and many others were more characterized by what they suffered - usually for others - than by their honors in this world

I do not need to know about the deceased priest who owned the chalice I received: what I need to know about is the one whose blood it contains so as to steel myself to be one with him in his suffering servanthood - however it may look for me, so as to in the end be one with him in his glory, certainly not at his right hand, but joyfully at the edge of the throng

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 10-17-2021: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Isaiah 53:10–11

10 But it was the LORD’s will to crush him with pain.

By making his life as a reparation offering,

he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days,

and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him.

11 Because of his anguish he shall see the light;

because of his knowledge he shall be content;

My servant, the just one, shall justify the many,

their iniquity he shall bear.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-17-2021: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 33:22

22 May your mercy, LORD, be upon us;

as we put our hope in you.

PSALM

Psalm 33:4–5, 18–20, 22

4 For the LORD’s word is upright;

all his works are trustworthy.

5 He loves justice and right.

The earth is full of the mercy of the LORD.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him,

upon those who count on his mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death,

and to keep them alive through famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD,

he is our help and shield.

22 May your mercy, LORD, be upon us;

as we put our hope in you.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-17-2021: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Hebrews 4:14–16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 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. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-17-2021: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Mark 10:45

45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

GOSPEL

Option A

Mark 10:35–45

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37 They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” 38  Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup 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 or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42 Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 10-17-2021: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Isaiah 53:10–11

Response Psalm 33:22

Psalm Psalm 33:4–5, 18–20, 22

Second Reading Hebrews 4:14–16

Gospel Acclamation Mark 10:45

Gospel Mark 10:35–45 or Mark 10:42–45