29th Sunday of Ordinary Time (2024)

Are you the dishwasher sheriff of your home? Do you tell family to leave their dirty dishes in the sink or on the counter because only you can properly place them in the dishwasher? You might be a control freak. When you are in the express lane at the supermarket, do you count the number of items in the cart of the people ahead and behind you? You might be a control freak. Do you put things on your to-do list just to cross them off? To some degree, we are all control freaks. We like to hold fast to the things that bring us comfort and security and contribute to our sense of identity. We look for certainty in our lives.

Last week, Deacon Art began a new homily series we are calling “Confessions of a Control Freak.” He asked all of us control freaks, “What is the key God is asking you to surrender?” We heard how the rich young man came to Jesus and gave him worship. He confessed that he was a religious man who followed the commandments. But the man couldn’t do it when Jesus asked him to give away his wealth and follow him. He didn’t have enough trust in God to surrender the key to his life. 

Today, the scriptures ask us control freaks to give up our ideas of greatness and success. What do you consider success in life? Is it being able to live just as you like? Do you wish life could be a party with you in the role of the life of the party? Maybe it is to be left alone with no drama to upset you. Is success to be wealthy enough that you have no money worries? Is your idea of success being a mover and a shaker responsible for leaps of progress in our world? Do you desire fame? Are you just looking to live the American Dream, whatever that is supposed to be? There is nothing wrong with any of those desires. We just need to name them for ourselves.

As I said, this series is called Confessions of a Control Freak, and I must confess I’m proud of the renovations to our church. A week doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t approach me before or after Mass to tell me how beautiful they are. I’m lapping it up! I love hearing it.

This week, Tom Palanza, the architect and contractor for the renovations, came to finish a few punch list items. I asked him if he had considered entering the church renovation in a contest. I admit I wasn’t only looking for him to receive an award, but maybe I’d get praise also. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of vanity.

In today’s gospel, Jesus shares the meaning of greatness with his apostles. James and John come to him and ask:

“Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask of you.”

That must have been annoying because Jesus had told the apostles about his approaching passion and death just before this incident, but James and John don’t seem to have heard and are going to nag him for a favor. They ask him to give them places of honor when he enters his kingdom. 

We must remember that the apostles didn’t initially follow Jesus out of purely altruistic purposes. They hoped there would be something in it for them if they joined up with Jesus. They hoped their lives would be different when Jesus ruled the show, and they would share in his power and glory. 

That is where many people begin their lives of faith, so if you are in that place in your faith life, it is okay. I remember that is where I started. I graduated from college in 1978. It was a time of so-called stagflation. Inflation was severe, and so was unemployment. I couldn’t get a job where I felt my skills were being used to their potential. I began spending a few minutes of my lunch break praying at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford for God to change things for me. The rest is history. 

Surprisingly, Jesus isn’t put out with James and John or insulted by them. He asks:

“What is it you wish for me to do for you?”

They make a bold request and respond:

“Grant that in your glory, we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”

They still believe Jesus will be King soon and want to be top advisors when He is. Jesus must have shaken His head and thought, “Be careful what you ask for,” because He responded:

“You do not know what you are asking. 

Can you drink the cup that I will drink 

or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 

In the Old Testament, the cup is used as a metaphor for God’s plan of service and suffering. In today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we hear how that role falls to the Suffering Servant. 

Jesus asks James and John if they have the determination to do that. They answer Jesus, saying they can, and He assures them they will suffer if they aspire to be His apostles. After Jesus’ Ascension, James will be the first apostle to be martyred, and John will face suffering and exile during his life.  

The other listening apostles must have been put out with James and John. It was already apparent they were Jesus’ favorites, along with Peter. They were a circle within the circle of apostles. Yes, Jesus had favorites, and James and John tried to take advantage of their closeness to Him. 

Jesus is aware of the infighting and calls all the apostles together. Jesus has groomed them throughout His ministry to succeed Him. So he tells them that among the Gentiles, it was common for their rulers to lord it over others and abuse their authority. He tells them:

“But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;

Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”

In Jesus’ reign, the place of honor wasn’t to be a throne but the floor where the servant kneeled to wash the feet of others. Greatness in His kingdom will be measured by serving others, even being like Jesus, who fulfills the role of Isaiah’s suffering servant, who is ready to die to ransom others from sin. 

Jesus doesn’t criticize his apostles for wanting greatness and success. Everyone should strive for greatness and desire it for others. He wants us to change our outlook on success. We need to see it not as exercising authority and power but as using our gifts to serve others rather than calculating how to manipulate a situation for our advantage, but seeing it as an opportunity to serve.

Jesus told the apostles:

"For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve

and give his life as a ransom for many."

He said we can’t just look to see what we can get out of religion but what we can give. I often hear people say they don’t come to Mass because they don’t get anything out of it. We can’t be just looking to be a consumer Catholic sitting in the pew, soaking it all in but offering nothing in return. 

In two weeks, the parish will be holding our annual Ministry Fair. Representatives from parish ministries and organizations will be set up in the newly renovated parish center to inform you about their parish activities. There are several new ones founded in recent months looking for your talents. Maybe you know about a ministry we should offer. Tell us about it. Whatever you like as a hobby, you can do for the parish. 

I know Halloween hasn’t even come yet, but I’d like you to start thinking about Christmas. It is an occasion when we have so many visitors. Some are from out of town; many are our family and friends; some are people considering a return to church or a relationship with Jesus Christ for the first time. We need many volunteers to help make them feel welcome. We’ll need ushers, greeters, and parking lot attendees. Our renovations have made the church unfamiliar to many, and they need our help feeling comfortable here.

I know you probably haven’t given any thought to the holidays yet. You don’t want to commit because you don’t know if you’ll be here in Chatham or go away to be with children and grandchildren. Tell the family you need to help at Holy Redeemer so they are invited here for Christmas. Invite them to help here at church. It makes for a great lesson on the meaning of Christmas for children and all the family. 

As followers of Jesus Christ, we all need to aspire to greatness. Everyone would like to be a hero and make an impact with our lives. Greatness is simple. It’s simpler than you think but not easy. It requires giving up control of life and imitating Jesus and the apostles who became the servants of those in material and spiritual need.