Man of Sorrows
Master of San Pietro in Sylvis, 1320

My dear friends,

Mark 10:35-45, which echoes the Buddhist principles of selflessness and compassionate service to others, begins as follows:

In this passage, James and John, seeking positions of glory, reveal a misunderstanding of the true nature of spiritual greatness. They long to be seated at Jesus' right and left, but their request displays a fundamental misconception. Jesus gently corrects them, expressing that these places of honor are not his to grant, and that the way to spiritual prominence is not through the pursuit of high positions but rather through service, humility, and even sacrifice.

At the heart of this interaction is Jesus' question in Mark 10:38:

When Jesus asks if they can "drink the cup" that he drinks or be "baptized with the baptism" with which he is baptized, he is using symbolic language to signify his upcoming suffering and death, and possibly resurrection. He then foretells that the disciples will indeed share in his suffering - they will face trials, persecution, and potentially martyrdom for the gospel's sake.

The disciples' swift response that they can indeed partake indicates their lack of understanding. They are thinking of earthly glory and miss the deeper spiritual meaning.

When the other disciples become angry at the audacity of James and John, Jesus continues his teaching:

From a Buddhist perspective, this teaching can be interpreted in terms of the ideal of the Bodhisattva — a being who seeks enlightenment not for their own benefit, but for the sake of all sentient beings. The Bodhisattva path involves humility, service, and compassionate actions. Just as Jesus teaches that "whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant," so do Bodhisattvas seek to serve all beings, putting the welfare and enlightenment of others before their own.

Jesus goes on to teach, "For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Here, we see a beautiful parallel with the Bodhisattva's aspiration to give up everything for the liberation of others, including their own lives if necessary.

Furthermore, this passage speaks to the heart of compassionate leadership. Jesus contrasts the rulers of the Gentiles who "lord it over them" with the type of leadership that he promotes, where the great ones are the servants of all.

My dear friends, let us contemplate these profound teachings. They remind us of the importance of service, humility, and compassion, principles that are at the heart of all spiritual traditions. Let these teachings inspire us to lead lives of compassionate service, placing the needs of others before our own, and seeking not to be served, but to serve. This is a path to genuine happiness, peace, and spiritual greatness.

May all beings find joy and liberation.

Jesus' response to James and John's request for places of honor serves as a significant teaching moment, not only for them, but also for all who read this passage. The request they made was born of their personal desires and ambitions, their attachment to worldly recognition and status.

But Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, saw beyond their surface-level request. He understood what they truly needed – spiritual guidance. By telling them that those places were not his to give and instead directing them towards a path of servitude, he was offering a far greater gift than they could have imagined. This gift was the illumination of the path to true spiritual greatness – a path marked by humility, selflessness, service, and unconditional love.

Similarly, each one of us, in our spiritual journey, may often pray for things that we believe will bring us happiness and peace. These could be worldly desires such as wealth, power, or fame. But our spiritual guides, be it Jesus, Buddha, or any other enlightened being, help us to see beyond these materialistic goals. They guide us towards what we truly need – an understanding of the impermanent nature of worldly pleasures, the cultivation of inner peace, and the practice of compassion and loving-kindness towards all beings.

Jesus' wisdom in this situation serves as a reminder that spiritual wisdom often goes deeper than our immediate desires. It challenges us to look beyond the surface, beyond the easily visible or tangible, to see the profound spiritual truths that underlie our existence. It encourages us to seek not just what we want, but to truly understand and seek what we need for our spiritual growth.

Jesus, in his response to James and John, did not grant them what they wanted, but he indeed gave them – and through the scripture, all of us – what we truly need. A profound insight into the true path to spiritual greatness. And this, without a doubt, is an immeasurably greater gift.