Christ Cathedral

We have all heard the saying that there are only two sure things in life: death and taxes. I know of some other sure things. For one, you can bet that there will always be change. There will be frequent conflict - between people and within people - even within us and with people we deal with all of the time. And there will always be choices to make.

The brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee had a conflict. They had it within themselves as they sought how to follow Jesus, and they had a conflict between themselves and the other disciples.

Now, in many ways we tend to think of James and John as ideals we should emulate. We idealize them because they are in the Bible, because they walked with Jesus, and because they left everything to follow Jesus! We know that they were there at the start of the Church, at a time that was so important, and they did great things for the Church. In fact, they gave their lives for Christ and His Church! They truly are among the Saints of the Church. And so we lift them up above the ordinary person.

But, that causes a conflict for us, because we also know how many times they tripped up. We like to judge them for their weaknesses and for their confusion and lack of understanding. "Look at them," we say when we read of this competition. "Why don’t they understand what Jesus is trying to tell them? Why are they competing here? Why are they seeking all the glory?"

Well, James and John were not pure Saints in their lifetime, although the Church later called them that; but neither were they completely sinners and dummies, no matter how good it makes us feel to point out their faults and criticize them.

What we need to remember is that James and John, along with other disciples, were just ordinary people - ordinary people who had come into contact with Jesus - and that made a big difference in their lives. But it also caused them conflict within themselves.

James and John were people who struggled with Jesus’ call. And they also struggled with their own desires. James and John were two loyal disciples who were trying to do their best, trying to figure things out. And that wasn’t easy for them. There was so much they didn’t know. And so they struggled with the call from Jesus - and they struggled with the voices of the world. How could they reconcile these two things?

I think it is significant to recognize how much like us the disciples were. It was with people like us that Jesus set out to change the world - and did.

Certainly we need to realize that God works with ordinary people to get God’s work done. God works with individuals who have both good and bad characteristics and habits - and with those ordinary people, God makes a difference in people’s lives and in the world. With such ordinary people, God builds the Church - and the Kingdom of Heaven.

We, just like the first disciples, are all God has to work with. And we, like James and John, sometimes think we are especially deserving of extraordinary treatment and reward. We sometimes see our life, especially if we follow Jesus, as deserving a reward and glory. So often we want to be first, and we want to be the best.

Sometimes in trying to be first, to get recognition, to get a little of the glory, we forget some of the very important things that Jesus teaches us. Sometimes we only want to see the glory. It is, after all, what the world teaches us.

A solid fact of life is that each person wants to be first at one time or another. And there are some who want to be first all of the time. So a big problem with following Jesus is that we are supposed to put Him first - and ourselves last; which causes us to wonder: where is the glory in that!

We tend to measure our success by winning, by being at the top, by gaining recognition, by being popular or making money. We like the glitter at the top, the glamour of attention and accomplishment and the glory of having made it. And sometimes that desire for glory drives us to win at all costs. And it does cost!

It can cost a person everything that is really important. We can get so caught up in being at the top that it shuts everything else out, even concern for others, integrity, morals, the whole sense of right and wrong. The drive to the top has been known to make people blind to everything else.

A successful young engineer was once asked what his greatest ambition was. The engineer replied that he wanted to be very good at what he did, so good, in fact, that he would get a lot of recognition and earn more money. He wanted to design a car that would impress his boss and everyone else. But above all else, he wanted to be very rich. "I want money. I want a big house, cars and everything money will buy." His boss handed the young man a box containing a pair of metal-framed glasses. In place of the lenses were silver dollars. "Put these on," his boss told him. The engineer kind of laughed, but he put them on. When he did, his boss asked, "Now what do you see?" "Nothing! The money blocks everything else out." As his boss walked away, he remarked, "Maybe you had better rethink your ambition!"

Jesus said it this way: "What does it profit someone to gain the whole world and lose their soul?"

There are many things that are more important than money or recognition. There are more important things that being first. Doing the right thing might not always get us the attention we crave. And yet - doing the right things are what truly do give us the best rewards, in the long run.

James and John learned this in time. They may at one time have been caught up in their own importance, and seeking glory in this world and the next - in wanting seats of honor - but in time they went on to great things for Jesus and His Church. And in doing that, they found the real glory: their peace, their joy, and their life.

They found the glory of living in Christ - the glory of really being able to drink from Jesus’ cup and be baptized with His baptism. It was the glory of being able to serve Christ - to give their all - to be faithful in all things- even when it was tough.

Following Jesus is not easy. It does not always seem all that glorious. But it will win you the joy of Christ and eternal reward.

And in addition to all that, as if that is not enough, commitment to Jesus will give you the reward and glory of seeing lives changed, of seeing life blossom anew in some who were spiritually dead. It will give you the glory of self-respect and the priceless treasure of friendships and a new family: the family of faith in Christ’s Holy Church.

The only way Jesus got His glory was by giving His all to God - by giving His life for God’s world - by serving and caring and working, and by not counting the cost. That is the life He calls us to, also.

You have opportunities every day to reach out to others, to invite the unchurched, to give of yourself to friends and neighbors, to help the unfortunate of the world, to show someone the way to a better life and the way to faith. You have opportunities every day to make life better for someone else, to cheer them, and encourage them, to lift their spirits and to put God’s love in their hearts.

By taking those opportunities, you will not just feel good; you will find the glory that is yours in the love of Christ. Amen...