Page 140 - laten-08-06-2020

–the attitude of the church leaders were similar to that of James
and john, seeing leadership in terms of status and privilege.
Being the first ecclesial intrigue for high places in the
church accompanied by the context of the empire this began as
a family attempt to steal the hierarchical power. But here Jesus
dwelling on his passion, knowing that he was first to have others
on His right hand and on His left; and all the time their minds
were in another world.

In this third prediction of the passion we see the failure
of His disciples to grasp His meaning and see the implications
of his teaching for their own lives. These two disciples were very
ambitious in their request. Ambition in this context refers to an
instinct of nature, a desire to rise; and like all other instincts,
capable of good and evil. James and John gave signs of a selfish,
self-centred, egocentric desire or negative ambition. They
exposed their weakness in discipleship. It reveals that James and
John did not know the true cost of a high place in the kingdom
of God. The experiencing cross enables one to redefine his or
her relationship with fellow beings…not to be lords over others
but being servants.
Today we live in a world of plurality of faith and
practices. Being part of a united and uniting church, it’s our
duty to condemn the evils of corruption, selfish desires and
temptation within the community and we should obstruct
all the undesirable deeds which make the institution loose its
dignity.

Prayer

God of the ages, empower us to bear and experience the
cross and help us to re-define our calling by expressing the core
of the Cross and enable us to resists the power of the empire.
Amen
Rev.Jacob Devasiah
Madhya Kerala Diocese

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People