054 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-20, 22; Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10:35-45

Homily Theme

A Suffering Servant.

There are two words that stand out for me this week and both of them are not popular words with most of us. Suffering is certainly not something anyone wants to willingly embrace but we are not going to get out of this life without experiencing it. In fact, our lives began with it: our mothers gave birth to us in great pain and suffering. They loved us and diligently served us throughout our lives as we grew in maturity. A mother suffers when her child is sick, hurt or strays from the faith. She patiently continues to suffer and is always there to serve us in our times of need. She is a good example of a suffering servant. If you have never suffered you have never loved. I suffer because I love: it is the price I pay for love.

Jesus is the Suffering Servant prophesied in the first reading. Most people would not choose to be servants but would prefer to be served but that is not what Jesus teaches us in the Gospel this week. If you wish to be great, be a servant to all. Jesus gives us an example of greatness not just in words, but in His very life. He did not come among us to be served but to serve. He loves you and me so much that He suffered a painful passion and death for us. He was scourged, crowned with thorns and carried a cross, on which He was crucified, so that you and I might live with Him forever. No suffering was equal to His suffering. Jesus fulfills the prophesy in Isaiah, He is the Suffering Servant who pays the debt of our sins. He is our ransom from sin and eternal death. He loves us with an infinite love so he serves us.

We have lived during the time of two great saints Pope John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Both of them knew great suffering and embraced it with love. Both of them were world renowned for their service to mankind. They were great because the world saw and recognized them as true Suffering Servants.

If you wish to be great, then embrace the sufferings that come into your life and see them as labor pains of love. Let the Blessed Mother, inspire us as she stood at the foot of the Cross. No mother suffered as much as she did as she gave birth to the Church in labor at that moment. She too is a suffering servant and continues to suffer for the love of all her children who stray. This week, let us all come home to Her as she calls us back to Him: to suffer is not evil. It is a sign of our love for God.