Is 53:10-11
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Heb 4:14-16
Mk 10:35-45
The passage from which we have just heard from comes from the tenth chapter of Mark. Preceding this exchange between Jesus and the Sons of Thunder, James and John, Jesus makes his third and final prediction of His death:
Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise. (Mk 10:33-34)
Imagine your leader, master, and closest friend just nonchalantly saying in your travels for the third time that he was going to die a terrible horrible death. Forget about the rising from the dead three days after this horrible death ; your best friend just said he was going to suffer and die! Talk about awkward!!! Nobody wants to see their friend go through any kind of suffering, let alone a public mockery, torture, and execution. And then His two disciples, the Sons of Thunder, James and John – trot alongside Him – almost sounding like they have no clue what’s going on in this awkward situation. “Psst! Psst! Hey Jesus! Ummmm…. when you come into your glory, Can we sit at your right and your left? Can we ride shotgun?”
This is one of the moments in scripture where, though it was not explicitly recorded, you know there Jesus had a “Face-Palm of Biblical Proportions”. You don’t know whether to scold them or hug them with a “bless your heart!” Jesus simply says, 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? Without skipping a beat they reply, We can. Jesus doesn’t come back agreeing or disagreeing with them on whether they could or not, but speaks in the future tense: The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized. – knowing full well that they, too, would suffer a baptism with their own blood in martyrdom.
The imagery of “drinking a Cup” is a symbol of suffering. The Old Testament makes references of drinking a cup, and usually it is in reference of suffering the consequences of sin. Perhaps akin to our idiomatic phrase, “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.” So this cup is a bitter cup that is not easy to drink. It is not a sippy cup with nice handles that never spills. It is not a travel mug to keep things warm. Nor is it a beer stein of intoxication to numb sensation. It is a chalice of bitter suffering – The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. [crushing him with weakness and humiliation] …his life as an offering for sin… the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him… through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. The “Suffering Servant” of Isaiah 53 is prophesying of a servant that will eventually redeem God’s people. Humanity has made their bed, but it is Christ who must now lie in it. We, as a people have poured this cup, but it is Christ who must now drink it.
In ages before the Incarnation, the priests were charged with offering sacrifice to God, to appease, to ask forgiveness, to strengthen their relationship, and to gain good favor. Jesus Christ came into this world, the Savior, as the high priest who would offer atonement for the humanity’s transgression and sins. He was and is the High Priest, who had no sin Himself, and offered Himself as priest and victim to the Father. Into your hands I commend my spirit. He was the perfect the man, the perfect mediator between God and Mankind, the perfect offering of victimhood. The perfect priest, the perfect sacrifice; the one and the same Sacrifice that we celebrate everyday at Mass. As Jesus was experiencing the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done. Christ did not desire to drink this cup, no human person would! But He did desire to follow His Father’s will. His agony was so great, scripture writes, that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.
We come to Church today centuries later, redeemed by Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. He has drunk the cup, He has been baptized in His blood. And we sit here comfortably in our homes and pews grumbling about this or that in the world – many of them only first world problems. The Passion, the Death, and the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior has allowed us to have a seat at His heavenly altar. Unlike James and John, we didn’t have to call “shotgun!” to get a seat here in His sanctuary. It has been freely given to us. Unlike James and John, we did not drink the cup and nor baptized in the blood of martyrdom like they were. And we sit here comfortably at Mass: perhaps even taking it for granted and demanding that you be entertained or complaining that you didn’t “get something out of it” for the time that you spend – one hour of the 168 hours of the week – as if the Church was making an imposition on your precious time and attention. You come in grabbing a bulletin and start reading it like you’re sitting at a doctor’s office. We sit like Masters, Lords and leaders above everyone, like privileged spoiled little kids; and yet Christ was to be servant of all and for all – to give His life as a ransom….
Knowing full well the pain, suffering, and agony that Christ underwent for our sake and for our sins, He offers this same cup that He drank to all of us. He offers this cup, this chalice of His blood – as an invitation. BY drinking this chalice of salvation that Christ offers, we are to partake in His suffering, to partake in His pain, and most importantly: to partake in His Redemption for us all. As I celebrate this Mass, my prayer turns towards being “in the person of Christ”. As I consecrate the bread and the wine to the Body and Blood of Christ, I am completely and utterly humbled by my unworthiness to assume such an office and I approach the altar with holy fear and trembling. At the same time, I am completely and utterly grateful and filled with thanksgiving that God has chosen me to assume such an office.
As we are gathered in His presence, as you literally sit at His left and right at this holy altar, I ask you to search inside yourself and ask yourself – why me? Who am I that the Lord would call me here today? What have I done to deserve such a place at His table? Have I come to be served or to serve others? Have I desired to be first without being a slave of all? And finally, As I sit here am I willing to drink the cup that Our Lord drank for me?
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