Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL, Bishop of Parramatta
Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:4-16; Mark 10:35-45
Embracing the self-emptying way of Christ and the Gospel logic of service
Dear friends,
We live in a world where individual gain, wealth accumulation and upward mobility are the default operating principle. As a result, one’s security, prosperity and self-interest are prioritised over those of others and even of creation itself. We see the evidence of this default operating principle in the inequalities, rivalries and conflicts around the world and in our own society.
The Christian response is truth telling, community building, public responsibility with the care of the needy as its defining feature. Our worship today is an affirmation of this response. We are mobilised in our charism of love and commitment to model the divine pathos for the vulnerable.
The Word of God this Sunday draws us to a new way of living and being, both individually and collectively as a community of believers. Put quite simply, to follow Christ is to embrace an alternative mode of existence radically different from the default position of self-interest, the survival-oriented behaviour and the worldly pursuit of success, power and glory. We embody a different way of being in the world, an alternative relational paradigm -if you will- that Christ taught and exemplified consistently. This alternative relational paradigm turns the world’s system of power structures on its head because it is rooted in his model of selflessness, servant-leadership and vulnerability.
In the first reading, Isaiah speaks to his long suffering people in a way that runs contrary to popular hopes and expectations. In what is known as the Song of the Suffering Servant, the prophet goes against the grain by describing the vulnerability and powerlessness of the long-awaited Messiah. Instead of acting like a super-hero with all guns blazing, he would be equipped with the weapons of humility, integrity and justice. Instead of retaliating against the enemy, he would be “crushed with anguish and by his sufferings would justify many”. He would restore Israel not through domination and violence but through love, compassion and justice.
This was not a kind of Messiah that the oppressed and humiliated people had hoped for. This prophecy went against the pride of a chosen race who still relished the memories of greatness in the Jewish monarchy with its unrivalled army and magnificent temple. Yet Isaiah goes against the grain of popular sentiments. Like Zechariah who speaks of a king riding a donkey, he does not follow the script of the empire and points to God’s radical way of love over hatred, gentleness over violence, humility over arrogance and vulnerability over force. He challenges the people to reject the imperial mindset of power, violence and retaliation. In exile, they learned to worship and emulate not the gods of the empire but the God of the Covenant, full of compassion and pathos for the oppressed.
This is also the kind of God Jesus revealed in his own life and ministry. Last Sunday’s Gospel, he invited the rich young man to experience an alternative mode of existence –one that is based on trust and shared life rather than personal wealth and security. In today’s episode, he ups the ante. He urges his disciples to embrace vulnerability and powerlessness. He instructs them: “If anyone wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all.” Talk about turning the world’s value system on its head! God’s way, in effect is the reversal of the imperial model of self-interest, power and glory. St Paul would speak powerfully and poetically about the self-emptying journey of Christ in his letter to the Philippians. “He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” To be his follower is to walk the path of vulnerable trust that Jesus walked. It was the downward journey that culminated on Calvary.
Brothers and sisters,
Today, we are challenged to embrace the path of authentic Christian discipleship based on the teaching and example of Christ. Pope Francis has invited all Catholics to set out on a journey and to reflect the true nature of the Church as a People of God. Our diocesan journey towards a synodal Church has also committed us to a collective conversion. In the light of the Word today, the Church is challenged to convert from worldly model of power to the Gospel logic of service, from security to vulnerability, from self-reference to openness, from splendour to simplicity, from triumphalism to humility, from a siege mentality to engagement with the world.
God’s Word proclaims unequivocally that the Messiah did not follow the script of the empire. He came as a poor and humble servant in order to give his life as a ransom for others. Let us pray that we may embrace his way of compassion, gentleness, vulnerability and powerlessness. May we, as a community of disciples, learn to be humble servants of one another. May we follow the example of Christ by living out a courageous discipleship in silent hope, in vulnerable trust, in humble service and self-emptying love especially during this time of the great cleansing and renewal in our Church.