Chirping

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:17-28)

Jesus said a lot in these selections from Matthew.  Are we listening to him?  

A Native American was in downtown New York walking along with his friend who lived in New York City.   Suddenly he stopped and said, “I hear a cricket.”  “Oh, you’re crazy,” his friend replied.  “No, I’m serious and I really do!  I am sure of it.”

His friend said, “It’s noon in New York City.  The people are bustling around, cars honking, taxis squeaking, and you say you hear a little cricket.  I don’t think so!”  But the Native American persisted.  “I’m absolutely sure.”  And he started to search for the little creature.  He walked down the street to the corner and there he found a little shrub in a large cement planter.  He dug behind the leaves and there was the cricket.

His friend was duly astonished and said, “Wow! That’s impressive hearing!”  But the Native American replied, “No, my ears are no different from yours.  It simply depends on what you are listening to. Here let me show you.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins- a few quarters, some dimes, nickels, and pennies.  And he dropped them on the concrete.  Every head within 20 feet turned and looked. “You see what I mean?” said the Native American, and he picked up the coins.  It all depends on what you are listening for.”

Are we listening for and to Jesus this Lent.  There are many distractions to be sure.  For many of us we hear his chirping, and we respond.  For many of us it’s the coins we hear and not much else. 

Deacon David Pierce