As I read about Jesus in the gospel today, walking to Jerusalem with twelve of his disciples, I was reminded of the Band of Brothers: a brotherhood of soldiers on their walk to face the prospect of death and the ravages of war. As Jesus shared his fate with his own band of brothers, I began to ask myself what could be going on in the minds of the twelve? What was their reaction when Jesus told the disciples what was going to happen to Him, and to them?
What was the reaction in the minds of the disciples, to what Jesus was telling them? How did they feel when they considered their future?
And did James and John truly hear what Jesus said? One must wonder if they did, by what they asked of Jesus.
James and John wanted special consideration, or a place of prominence. The other ten were outraged at the desire. One could almost imagine the ten, asking James and John, "What’s wrong with you men, didn’t you hear Him?"
I could also imagine James and John saying, "What do you mean? Didn’t Jesus tell us we could ask for anything in His name and He would grant it to us? What's wrong with asking for favor?"
Jesus took in the exchange between his young followers and explained more fully to James and John what their request would involve. He then spoke separately to the ten and made clear what expectations he had of them. One has to remember that these were new recruits and not seasoned disciples.
It is said of St. Philip Neri whose feast we celebrate today, that growing up in Cassino, Italy, where Saint Benedict and his band of brothers resided, that Philip drank deeply of Benedictine spirituality. His drinking deeply of Benedict’s spirituality of prayer and work seasoned him. For some, Saint Philip Neri would come to be seen as the Second Apostle to Rome after Saint Paul. He healed thousands in the confessional, and comforted and directed countless others.
With the passage of time John, James and the ten would also drink deeply of the spirituality of Jesus and they would go on to influence their own countless thousands converting them to Christ.
When we choose to drink deeply of Christ’s spirituality, those things that Sirach prayed for today will become ours. God will give us new signs and works new wonders; the light of God’s mercy will rest upon us and God will give evidence of his deeds of old, walking with us today as he walked in the company of his band of brothers on their way to Jerusalem.
- Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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