Lydenstyd-oordenkings - 23 Maart 2010

Toe kom die vrou van Sebedeus met haar twee seuns by Jesus en kniel voor Hom om Hom 'n guns te vra. "Wat kan Ek vir u doen?" vra Hy vir haar. Sy sê vir Hom: "Belowe my dat hierdie twee seuns van my in u koninkryk langs U mag sit, een aan u regterhand en die ander een aan u linkerhand." Toe antwoord Jesus: "Julle weet nie wat julle vra nie. Kan julle die lydensbeker drink wat Ek gaan drink?" "Ons kan," antwoord hulle. Jesus sê toe vir hulle: "Ja, my beker sal julle drink. Maar om aan my regter- en my linkerhand te sit, daaroor besluit Ek nie; dit is vir dié vir wie my Vader dit gereed gemaak het." Toe die tien ander dissipels dit hoor, was hulle kwaad vir die twee broers.

Jesus roep hulle toe nader en sê: "Julle weet dat dit by die nasies so is dat die regeerders oor hulle baasspeel, en dat die groot manne die mag oor hulle misbruik. Maar by julle moet dit nie so wees nie. Elkeen wat in julle kring groot wil word, moet julle dienaar wees; en elkeen wat onder julle die eerste wil wees, moet julle slaaf wees. So is dit ook met die Seun van die mens: Hy het nie gekom om gedien te word nie maar om te dien en sy lewe te gee as losprys vir baie mense."

Matt 20:20-28 (NAV)

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matth 20:20-28 (NIV)

Downward Mobility

The compassionate life is the life of downward mobility! In a society in which upward mobility is the norm, downward mobility is not only discouraged but even considered unwise, unhealthy or downright stupid. Who will freely choose a low-paying job when a high-paying job is being offered? Who will choose poverty when wealth is within reach? Who will choose a hidden place when there is a place in the limelight? Who will choose to be with one person in great need when many people can be helped during the same time? Who will choose to withdraw to a place of solitude and prayer when there are so many urgent demands made from all sides?

Jesus says: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

This is the way of downward mobility, the descending way of Jesus. It is the way towards the poor, the suffering, the marginal, the prisoners, the refugees, the lonely, the hungry, the dying, the tortured, the homeless - towards all who ask m for compassion. What do they have to offer? Not success, popularity, or power, but the joy and peace of the children of God.

Henri Nouwen