One on the Right and the Other on the Left
The Rev. John R. Wallace, ASHN, Class of 2003 from the Diocese of Delaware
Senior Sermon on April 8, 2003
Mark 10:32-45

Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?

I have often wondered what it would be like to be Jesus for just a few minutes. Imagine how frustrated you would become when your trusted disciples just didn't get it? I'm sure a lot of his time was spent fielding silly questions from the crowds let alone his inner circle. In today's gospel we have another example of the disciples' failure to understand the nature of his ministry. He had not come as a warrior messiah like the Maccabees intent upon overthrowing the Roman rule over Israel. In the Matthean account of this event we find the mother of the son's of Zebedee coming with her sons to ask Jesus to allow James and John to sit one on his right and one on his left in his kingdom. I wonder how I would have handled this if I were Jesus?

(Cell phone rings)

"Hello? Yes Mrs. Zebedee this is Mary's boy Jesus, how can I help you?" (Pause) "Um Hmm…Yes I'm sure you want what's best for Jimmy and Johnny I fully understand." (Pause) "No I don't doubt that my Mother agrees with you. She told you to call me did she?" (Pause) "Well, yes the wine at that Cana wedding that was something wasn't it? We like to call that a miracle in my trade." (Pause) "What's that?" (Pause) "No you're right it didn't have anything to do with woodwork, but I was talking about my new occupation. I am sure your sons told you about it I am a traveling preacher and healer." (Pause) "Well, yes much like my cousin John." (Pause) "Yes I know what happened to him." (Pause) "No there is not much future in losing your head. Tell me Mrs. Zebadee what exactly did you call me for today?" (Pause)"I see, one on the right and one on the left in my kingdom." (Pause) "Yes I can understand your confusion, carpenters don't usually have kingdoms, but I am not sure you understand." (Pause) "So Mom told you that I'd do just this one favor for you did she? Well, I told her the wedding thing was the last time." (Pause) "OK I'll see what I can do, but it is not at all what you think it's going to be." (Pause) "You're welcome, and it was nice talking with you as well." (Hang up the phone.)

I knew she was going to cause trouble. (Dialing phone and wait for answer) "Pete! Its me JC, How's it going?" (Pause) "Did you catch any fish today? Well try the other side of the boat." (Pause) "Listen I need to give you a head's up about something. I just got off the phone with Mrs. Zebedee and she is brokering a deal to have her two boys take over as my number one and number two assistants." (Pause) "That's why I called you. Did you really have your heart set on that Roman gig we talked about?" (Pause) (Motion while holding hand over mouth piece) "You know the one we talked about, Rock of the church, apostolic succession, line of popes beginning with you. (Pause) "Yes that one! Well, if I give the Zebedee boys the right and left hand thing that won't leave room for you." (Pause) "Well, I suppose we could dig up some dirt on them. After all if there was a scandal we can't condone that sort of thing." (Pause) "You think Judas can handle it, but he seems so loyal." (Pause) "Oh, you think he might betray them for a price. OK if you can make it work I'll give you the green light." (Pause) "Yes I'd love some fresh fish. Switching sides worked out? Good. Call me later."

Now as absurd as my little vignette of Jesus on his cell phone with Mrs. Zebedee and Peter sounds to us it is not far from the kind of thinking that was going on in the minds of the apostles as they contemplated their futures. They were looking for something that Jesus was not going to provide them. Jesus' response is the key here and I want to keep coming back to it. (Pause)

"Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
(Pause)
…and Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
(Pause)

No matter what our call in life this is the question we all must ask ourselves. Those of us called to ordained ministry do not have a corner on the market when it comes to drinking from the cup. In our baptismal covenant we are all called to "…renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God…renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God…renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God…turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior…put you whole trust in his grace and love…follow and obey him as your Lord…Continue in the apostle's teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers…persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord…proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ…seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself…strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." These are all important promises each of us has sworn to do with God's help in our baptismal covenant.

(Pause)
…and Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
(Pause)

Much like James and John we tend to think we are doing the right thing and we are sure that we will be rewarded in the end for our hard work, but do we really understand what is asked of us? Do we know what it will be like to drink of the cup? I wonder?

When I first approached my then Rector about beginning the process for ordination I explained that I felt like I wanted to do more. I was a Lay Reader and Eucharistic Minister, Chair of the Education Committee, Adult Sunday School Teacher and Usher. I had done everything except bless the sacraments and preach. When I told him I had watched him and other priests do these tasks for years and felt confident that I could do them as well. He looked at me long and hard and stroked his bearded chin and finally he said with a twinkle in his eye, "Well, we'll see won't we?" That was his way of expressing his confidence and support of my entry into ordination process, but it was also a subtle warning because he added as a sort of Post Script, "You know preaching and blessing the sacraments are the easy parts." (Pause) He then said I was not ready to preach and assigned me to be in charge of the children's service. "If you can get a message across to them you can do it with anybody." So that was my job for the next three years. I had a congregation of my own, the maximum age of which was ten. They were a challenge to say the least. I was drinking from a new cup and it was a struggle for me, but it became a joy as well.

(Pause)
…and Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
(Pause)

When I was finally accepted into the process as a postulant and was on my way to seminary I thought all my troubles were over. I mean what could go wrong? Before I left my rector had assured me that he was going into the next vestry meeting intent on getting me some financial support. This time he was not going to be put off. Well, shortly after our arrival here in Texas we got word that our rector had resigned. Right away I thought he had done this because he was unable to convince the vestry to provide us with financial support. Next I find out that my son Ryan had decided not to move to Texas with us, but was going to live with his mother in Georgia. Then we got the news that the buyer for our house had backed out and so we had high rent payments and mortgage payments as well. It does not take long to deplete your savings when you're living on one income with both rent and mortgage payments. So there's the answer about what could go wrong. I had thought I was ready to drink from the cup.

(Pause)
…and Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
(Pause)

For many years I dreamed of going to seminary but doubted that it would ever come to pass. My daily prayers would regularly include the request that some means become available to make it possible. Not long afterward things started falling into place and it appeared like my prayers were being answered. But, before I was able to make the final steps that led to seminary I would explore the web sites of seminaries and dream of what it might be like to be part of their communities. I was especially drawn to this place and I took the virtual tour hundreds of times. I would always pause when it came to the view of our cross through the chapel window and wonder what it would be like to worship here and gaze out at this cross. Then after we got here our world seem to fall apart and one morning when Trish left for work she told me we needed help soon because our savings were almost gone and she had no idea how we were going to pay our bills.

(Pause)
…and Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
(Pause)

That morning I came to chapel and after praying for help silently I looked up and saw the cross through the chapel window. There was an almost audible voice that said to me as I gazed at the cross and thought back on the days when I had looked at it only in cyberspace that said to me; "Relax you're really here." There was a sense of peace that passed over me that cannot be explained except to say that it was indeed the peace that passes all understanding. At the close of the service a woman came up to me and asked if I was John Wallace, and when I said yes, she introduced herself as being from my home diocese's Commission on the Ministry. I had met her once before but did not recognize her at first. She said that the bishop had sent her to help. She clasped my hands and said "Relax the cavalry has arrived. We are not going to let you sink." Well, that evening she took us to dinner and after hearing our story she wrote us a check from her own discretionary fund. Before long we had checks arriving from the bishop, my now former rector and my parish. Then we got word that the house finally closed and so we were once again on our feet and headed in the right direction. I thought then all would be smooth sailing, but I was wrong of course.

(Pause)
…and Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?
(Pause)

Many of you know that we have hit another bump in the road and we have had a few things happen to us lately that have brought us down, but we are not going to despair. We are not giving into the temptation to give up. We have come a long way and we have a long way to go before we arrive home. When we started this journey we were much like James and John in that we had a distorted view of what the future would hold. Like them we were faithful and like them we have suffered. I pray that all of us will one day be able to hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant." For even though we see through a glass darkly and things are unclear, we are all of us willing and able to drink from the cup. When Jesus asked us if we were able we answered "Yes" and just like when I said I could do all the things that a priest could do and my rector said "We'll see" we have said yes to our call. I am in a position now that I can see the end of the journey and yes it involves beginning a new one, but more than that it involves drinking from the cup of Christ over and over. Now this is not just a Eucharistic metaphor, but rather a very real willingness to drink the cup of Christ with all the danger, sorrow, pain and yes joy that this entails. Unlike James and John I am no longer naïve about the price of asking to sit on the right and the left of Jesus in his kingdom, indeed I am well aware of the cost of the desire to work in ordained ministry. The cost is great indeed, but the rewards, well, they are boundless! Jesus asks: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? I have given my answer, what about you? Yes, you say? Well, we'll see, we'll see.
AMEN