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“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 who will
mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but
after three days he will rise.” Mark 10:33–34
How often do we fail to grasp the suffering of others, consumed
instead by our own concerns? This was the struggle of the Twelve as
Jesus prepared to endure His Passion. Today’s Gospel presents the
third time Jesus clearly told them about His Passion and Death, yet
they still didn’t get it.
After Jesus revealed His Passion for the first time, “Peter took
him aside and began to rebuke him.” In the presence of the other
disciples, Jesus responded, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking
not as God does, but as human beings do” (cf. Mark 8:31–33). The
second time Jesus revealed His Passion they “did not understand the
saying, and they were afraid to question him.” Instead, they
engaged in a childish conversation, “discussing among themselves on
the way who was the greatest” (cf. Mark 9:30–37).
Today’s Gospel, presenting the third time Jesus revealed His
Passion, depicts a similar scenario. Jesus is very explicit: In
Jerusalem, He “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 who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put
him to death, but after three days he will rise.” Once again,
despite the seriousness of Jesus’ revelation, James and John
immediately ask Jesus, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at
your right and the other at your left” (Mark 10:37). The Apostles
were so consumed with their own ambitions that they failed to grasp
the gravity of Jesus’ words and were unable to offer Him the
charity of empathy.
Fortunately for them—and for us—Jesus had perfect patience. He
understood their weaknesses and showed mercy. Humanly speaking, the
disciples could have offered Him the charity of human empathy and
compassion, walking more firmly with Jesus toward His agony and
death, but they were unprepared and unable to do so.
While the Apostles failed to console Jesus, His mother consoled His
Sacred Heart. With her Immaculate Heart in perfect union with His,
the Blessed Mother modeled perfect empathy as she pondered her
Son’s life in her heart and stood faithfully at the foot of the
Cross. She walked with Jesus every step of the way. Her love
consoled Him even as the Twelve failed to do so. The Blessed Mother
teaches us how to accompany, with love and presence, those who
suffer.
We must see ourselves in the Apostles, listening to Jesus share
news of His Passion. As we consider their apathy and lack of
understanding, we should seek the grace of a loving and empathetic
heart by seeing our Lord present in those around us, especially
family, who carry heavy burdens. This grace will enable us to be
attentive to those burdens and better imitate our Blessed Mother
who consoled the heart of her Son. Though the Apostles initially
failed in this mission, they were learning and growing. Empowered
by the Holy Spirit, they would later console others by sharing
Christ’s love and proclaiming His Passion with courage, especially
as they lived it.
Reflect today on Jesus’ interaction with His Apostles. Learn from
their shortcomings and be grateful for Jesus’ patience. Pray for
the grace of an empathetic heart, for this virtue enables us to
console the Heart of Christ by sharing in His Passion with
attentiveness and compassion. In doing so, we imitate the perfect
love of the Blessed Mother, who teaches us how to truly
love.
My patient Lord, though You desire to fully share Your life and
Passion with me, I often fail to be attentive and to see You in
those around me. Grant me the grace to meet You in Your sufferings,
and fill my heart with the charity of human empathy, especially for
those I am called to love. May I learn from the weakness of the
Apostles and the perfect love of Your Blessed Mother, imitating her
unwavering love for You and for all. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Image: Jesus and his Disciples on the Sea of Galilee By Carl
Oesterley
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