A few of my seminarian brothers have what are called “Comfort Crosses.” These wooden crosses are often made in the Holy Land or other pilgrimage sites and get their name from their smoothness in the palm of one’s hand. A few of us have started to jokingly call them “ergonomic crosses,” as even the idea of a “comfort cross” is incredibly ironic. Nonetheless, this harmless irony points to the desire that we all have: to avoid discomfort and suffering.
The first reading today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah; who certainly knows a thing or two about suffering. We learn that the people of Judah are contriving plots against Jeremiah so that they can “destroy him by his own tongue” (Jer. 18:18). He calls out to God, “Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life?” (18:19-20). He awaits suffering and persecution and begs the Lord to take it away.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm has a very similar tone. The Psalmist is aware of the snare set for him and can “hear the whispers of the crowd” (Ps 31:14). He calls out for the Lord to save him. While most of us haven’t experienced the intensity of persecution of Jeremiah, we can relate with the cry of both him and the Psalmist. At the first sight of discomfort, we are often asking for the Lord to take it away. Jesus speaks to the concerns of both Jeremiah and the Psalmist and teaches us an important lesson about suffering for the Christian.
Jesus has shared with his apostles that he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Matt 16:21). Soon after the Transfiguration, Jesus once again tells his disciples that “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day” (Matt 17:22-23). At the beginning of today’s Gospel, Jesus tells them again “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 to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day” (Matt 20:18-19).
But it doesn’t appear like James and John are listening to these stern words of warning from Jesus. Perhaps they are reflecting back on the splendor of the Transfiguration and want to share in his glory. They wish to sit to the right and to the left of Jesus in His Kingdom. Perhaps these sons of Zebedee anticipated another great transfiguration upon their arrival in Jerusalem. They are merely concerned about power and status and forget that Jesus is going to suffer and die. Perhaps when he asks them “can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” they imagine a chalice of sweet wine at a rich royal banquet.
Understandably, the rest of the apostles are indignant that James and John seek advancement. We, too, can become frustrated with James and John for trying to elevate themselves. But we, too, often want power, prestige or even a cozy life without the cross. We want a little cross we can hold in our hands that certainly won’t even give us a splinter. Jesus corrects his apostles noting that greatness in the Kingdom of God is about being a servant. He provides the example of this service in laying down his life on a giant, bristly cross.
Lent is a beautiful time of year to be brutally honest with ourselves. Are we able to drink his chalice? Do we call ourselves Christians for the comfort it brings us or are we truly willing to go to the cross with Jesus? This Lent, let us purify our hearts through penance so that we might follow Christ for his own sake.
James and John do offer us some hope. Despite their early insistence on power and prestige, both apostles were able to suffer with and for Christ. St. James is traditionally known for being the first apostle martyred in the year 44. While St. John wasn’t martyred, he is traditionally believed to have been at the foot of Jesus’s cross with Mary. Also, later in life, he was exiled for being a disciple of Christ. Both men later showed remarkable virtue and ability to suffer for Christ and his Church. Today we can look to both men as examples and ask their intercession, that we may accept the crosses of our own life.
Saints James and John, pray for us!
Noah is a seminarian for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, MI. He received his Bachelors degree in finance and economics from Grand Valley State University. He has a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and his favorite Saint is St. John Paul II.
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