29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B - The Cup That Saves & “Mary, Woman of the Promise”
In this Sunday’s Gospel (Mk. 10:35-45), we encounter James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They hardly know what they’re asking for when they say to Jesus, “Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” They are thinking in terms of how the Gentiles rule, of royal privileges and honors. But the road to Christ’s kingdom is by way of his Cross. To share in his glory, we must be willing to drink the cup that he drinks.
The cup is an Old Testament image for God’s judgment. The wicked would be made to drink this cup in punishment for their sins. But Jesus has come to drink this cup on behalf of all humanity. In this, he will fulfill the task of Isaiah’s suffering servant, whom we read about in today’s First Reading (Isa. 53:10-11). Like Isaiah’s servant, the Son of Man will give his life as an offering for sin, as once Israel’s priests offered sacrifices for the sins of the people.
Jesus is the “great high priest” of all humanity, as we hear in today’s Second Reading (Heb. 4:14-16). As Israel’s high priests offered the blood of goats and calves in the temple sanctuary, Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary with his own blood. By bearing our guilt and offering his life to do the will of God, Jesus ransomed “the many”- paying the price to redeem humanity from spiritual slavery to sin and death. He has delivered us from death, as we rejoice in today’s Psalm (Ps. 32). We must look upon our trials and sufferings as our portion of the cup that he promised to those who believe in him.
In confidence, let us approach Communion this weekend, the throne of grace, at which we drink the cup of his saving blood.
As we continue to honor the month of the Holy Rosary, we present our latest video, “Mary, Woman of the Promise”, a beautiful hymn about the mother of Jesus and her promise of faithfulness. It was written in 1988 by American Roman Catholic Dominican sister, university professor and theologian, Mary Frances Fleischaker (a.k.a. Sr. Mary Fran) for a Marian hymn competition.
Video can be watched by clicking here or on the picture below:
