[Arabic Version]
It is not possible to establish with any certainty what past history and what past legend play in the tradition that relate to St. Mary of Egypt. One must simply admit the fact that the church wished to make her, a pattern of repentance. She is a symbol of conversion, of contrition and of austerity. On this last Sunday of lent, she expresses the last and most urgent call that the church addresses to us before the sacred days of the Passion and Resurrection.
The epistle from (Hebrew 9:11-14) compares the ministry of Christ to that of the High Priest of the Jews. Once each year, he enters into the Tabernacle, but Christ entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. The High Priest purified and sanctified the faithful by sprinkling them with the blood and ashes of sacrificed animals. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without ----------- to “God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The Gospel (Mark 10:32-45) describes Jesus ascent to Jerusalem before His Passion. Jesus takes the twelve apostles aside and starts to tell them that He will be betrayed, condemned and put to death, and that He will be rise again from the dead. At the threshold of the Holy week could we be “taken aside” by the same Saviour for a talk which He explains to us, personally the mystery of Redemption?
Do we ask the Master to help us understand at great depth what is taking place for our sake on Golgotha? Do we make possible for Jesus to meet us in secret? Do we seize the opportunities to be alone and quiet with the Lord? At that moment the son of Zabadee comes to Jesus and asks Him, to let them sit with Him in His Glory, on His right and the other on the left. The Lord asks them, and puts the same question to us: “Can you drink of the cup that I drink of? The Master then explains to the disciples that true glory lies in serving others. For the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Here we have a complete change (reverse) of the value meaning:
For the world value means: position, wealth, education.
Christ brought a new meaning. Value men service.
The problems in the world are the results of the ------------- of the persons to become wealthier, more respectful, more advantageous and more powerful.
When one of us think that he is better than the other he will be, for himself, of a different mould and therefore, God had dedicated him to be smarter (as it happened to the son of Zabadee).
Why does Jesus emphasises “The service”? Why does He put it above all other values? Because if Christianity is anything, it is “Love”, and as matter of fact, it is more than love, it is an active love, love that sacrifices itself, a love built on the love of Jesus who came to to be served but to serve. When the spirit of Christ becomes part of the life of a person, he becomes slave to this Master.
Mission
First at home
Second the mission of the parents primarily.
Jesus gave a good example when He washed his apostle feet.