CAN YOU DRINK THE CUP?

HOMILY FOR THE 29^TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Many of us experienced the 2018 FIFA world cup hosted by Russia, which started on the 14^th day of June and ended on the 15^th day of July. Many people followed the 64 matches that were played meticulously while some others stopped following when their favourite teams were evicted. During this tournament which involved 32 teams from 32 nations, Sports channel became our favourite TV station, no reasonable Radio station neglected to create some moments for sports news, sports news became the most surfed in the internet, bloggers made some interesting news out of it, and sports commentaries and discussions were heard all around in the streets. The FIFA world cup trophy is for sure the most sought-after and recognized sports prize in the world and can be seen as a truly universal icon. Little wonder, 32 nations were competing to have this cup. Its design shows its universality. Though the cup is always designed different at each tournament, its form of a chalice-shaped base bearing a ball-like top remains constant. Of course, we are aware of how it all ended: the French team from France was the champion, Croatia was the runners-up, Belgium got the third place and England got the 4the place. The most thrilling time after the finals, for the spectators and for the players, was when the cup was handed over to the winners. Oh, what a victory!!!

Well, many may be tended to ask: why is he repeating the news we already know about the world cup? Who doesn’t know the news after all? As boring as the news may seem after about three months since it ended, that cup of victory handed over to the French team has a lot to teach us (well, for those who care to listen) about our faith in Jesus. We must bring it to our consciousness that the players sacrificed their times, treasures and talents to be part of this competition to win this cup. They passed through, if you like, suffering to get at this victory. And one may be inclined to sidetrack the suffering part only to talk about that moment when that cup was handed over. It did not begin in victory. It began in suffering. And so, will it be out of place if we regard the ‘world cup’ as not only a cup of champions, but also a cup of suffering? The good news is that even if we do, the cup remains a sign of victory. And so, can this not be likened to what the cup of Christ is for us? As we hustle for it, we engage in lots of sacrifices, work-outs, fitness maintenance, under the Supreme Coach (the Christ) who directs us on how to work as a team to get to the victory.

That Supreme Coach himself knows what it means to suffer. He himself has been known as the suffering servant in the oracle of Isaiah. In the First Reading (Isaiah 53: 10-11), Isaiah prophesied on how this Christ would offer his life in atonement for many. His suffering would not be in vain, as through it, many would be made righteous and be saved. And so, aware that he has been reckoned with suffering, he understands it when we suffer for his sake. This is the point of the Second Reading (Hebrews 4:14-16) as we have one who has been tempted in every way. Having passed through suffering which was not done for his own sake or for the sake of suffering itself, we are encouraged. His suffering and sacrifice, even though passed through by Him, were meant for us. His suffering was oriented towards glory; His glory and our glory. This glory became felt by the many who would believe in Him. So too, the sacrifices of those players, were for their nation. They were oriented towards glory; their own individual glories and the glory of their nation.

In the Gospel (Mark 10:35-45), James and John, the sons of thunder desired this glory so much that they overlooked the suffering. And come to think of it, to have made the request when Jesus had just predicted his death was a very bad timing. It showed lack of understanding and insensitivity. However, Jesus drew their attention to a very important and indispensable part of the cup. Having made their request to Jesus to seat with Jesus in His glory, Jesus through his question draws them to revisit the process towards that glory: can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised? In this statement, the use of ‘or’ simply signifies that this cup is synonymous with this baptism. But what is this cup? In John 18:11, Jesus said to Peter: Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me? It is the cup of suffering to gain glory. It is the cup of suffering to save humanity. It is the cup of suffering to defeat Satan. It is the cup of suffering to prove to us that in suffering we are perfected. This was a clarion call to the sons of thunder and to us never to neglect suffering in our search of glory. Drinking this cup entails the disposition to sacrifice for others, serving others and abandoning the luxuries of the world for the sake of Christ.

And can this not be what mission is all about? This is mission Sunday. In it, we remind ourselves of the importance of the cross of Christ as we acknowledge the efforts of those missionaries who have sacrificed their comfort zones to serve the Church in need and in deed. But sometimes, like these apostles, we are quick to agree to the suffering, especially when our minds have been fixed to the glory. Each one of us, no doubt enjoys glory more than suffering. But there is a consequence when we place glory before suffering. We may disrupt the harmony in the society in which we live. We may lead others to become indignant to us. And this is the foundation of disunity and rancour. The antidote we need to take in when we see ourselves obsessed with the glorious part is to bend our knees in prayer and our necks to the service of others, for anyone who wishes to be first among you must be slave to all. Sincere Service is the antidote. Positions of authority should exist for those who have this principle working correctly in their brains. We need political leaders who would say: since I desire to be a leader, I condemn myself to servitude. For it is when we serve that we are truly leaders.

Back to the world cup story, we must recall the action of the 19 year old French player, Kylian Mbappe. The young man celebrated his victory in a very special way. He dedicated and donated his earnings from the tournament to a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to sports for hospitalized children. He let the money he made to serve the organization other than himself. What a way to celebrate victory gained through sacrifices! The Glory of the Christian does something for others. It breeds joy in others. Think about how the success of Mbappe made others joyful. Think about how our canonized indigenous saints make us joyful and proud. For instance, we are joyful as Nigerians that our own brother, Iwene Tansi is beatified; we are joyful as the people of Keith that our own brother John Ogilvie is a saint. To crown it all, think about then what the victory/glory of Christ has wrought for us. The glory of Christ brought joy, redemption, salvation and freedom to the whole world. I hope we shall allow this Christ’s seed of glory already sown in us at our baptism to manifest in our life here on earth and hereafter in heaven, for our sake and for the sake of others. Amen. Happy new week. God bless you.