Can you drink this cup?

This past Sunday the Scriptures had us reflect on the Gospel of Mark 10: 35-45. I share with you some thoughts in light of the recent violence in Milwaukee, WI. 

Dan Berrigan once remarked, “If you want to be Christian, you better look good on wood.”  In Mark’s Gospel, we are met with the challenge that if you want to be a disciple be ready to have your life turned upside down and inside out, and upside out and inside down!  “Discipling” is not an easy process.  It means facing toward Jerusalem with Jesus and letting him be in the lead.  It will always be messy and filled with adversity.

In today’s Gospel we meet James and John, also known as the “Sons of Thunder” or affectionately known as the favored sons of Mr. and Mrs. Zebedee.  These men can be described as enthusiastic, eager, zealous, ambitious, future planners, and they have a strong desire to follow Jesus.  But Jesus finds this time a teachable moment.  He says that “discipling” is not about being first, but it’s about being last.  It’s not about having many possessions, but it’s about letting ourselves be possessed by God. It’s not about having positions of power, authority, and honor.  But it’s about putting on an apron and bending down to wash the feet of another.  And in summary, it’s all about drinking of the cup of suffering – maybe even drinking deeply and sensing God’s passion surge through you!

In my kitchen at home, I have a cupboard with cups of many sizes, textures, shapes, and colors. So then in reflecting further on this Gospel, I invite us to call to mind the many cups that we are presented throughout our lives.

There are cups of compassion, forgiveness, thanksgiving, and blessing.  Can we drink of these cups that are filled with the joyful and sorrowful mysteries that are part of our faith journey?

There are cups of discernment, joy, laughter, friendship, decisions, choices, and beliefs.  Can we drink of these cups knowing that oftentimes we need the gentle support and understanding of another?

Yet, there are more cups that we encounter again and again throughout our short life’s journey:
• The cup of transition . . .
• The cup of walking in mystery
• The cup of embracing our limitations
• The cup of letting go
• The cup of “what will tomorrow unfold” 
• The cup of transformation
• The cup of surrender

Henri Nouwen in his book, “Can You Drink This Cup?,” suggests three movements, or gestures as to how we might drink from these cups.  The first movement is to HOLD the cup; to welcome it and all its contents into your life. The second movement is to LIFT the cup; to claim all that it holds – the joys, sorrows, surprises, and challenges of our lives.  And the third movement is to DRINK WITH GRATITUDE.  To sip gently as if its contents were a precious liquid.

Henri writes: “We have to drink our cup slowly, tasting every mouthful - all the way to the bottom! Living a complete life is drinking our cup until it is empty, trusting that God will fill it with everlasting life.”

So what is the Good News for us this week?
Let us be aware of the many cups that are presented to us this week.
Can we hold the cup that is presented to us and welcome it?
Can we lift the cup that is presented us and claim its mysteries?
And can we drink deeply with gratitude of the cups presented us through the activities and sharings  of our lives this week?

Jesus asked, “Are you sure you are capable of drinking the cup that I shall drink?”  And the disciples replied, “Sure, why not!”