25 Jul Drink the Chalice (Matt 20:23) by Fr. Joseph Totton
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“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.” ~ Matt 20:23 (full readings)
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Fr. Totton’s Reflections: St. James, along with his brother, St. John, the beloved disciple, typified the fickle nature of that motley band Jesus had chosen to be his Apostles. They were “on fire” one minute and the next minute totally absent. In one moment they had great ambitions, but, at least prior to Pentecost, they failed to calculate the cost of their discipleship. This is apparently a trait they learned from their mother who had the audacity to ask Jesus for tremendous honor – or what she thought would be tremendous honor – for her sons. Jesus poses the question with a consideration of the price of Glory. He rephrases the question in a way which pleases both sons of Zebedee and their mother, an invitation to “Drink the chalice” that He must drink. It all sounds so regal, and yet the Lord is inviting these men to share in His Passion in a special way. Even as they are invited to share in His passion, it is no promise of Glory – at least not as the world (and the mother of James and John) accord “Glory.” In fact, James finally consummated his share in Christ’s suffering as he was beheaded nine years later on the orders of Herod Agrippa. At the time, James had no idea what he was getting into, yet his love for the Lord gave him the wherewithal to follow through. “The chalice” – a share in the Lord’s Passion – yielded far more than he, or his mother, could ever have imagined, yet it was also a far greater challenge than he ever expected. In the end, he was given the privilege of preaching the Gospel and witnessing to its Truth, even to the point of shedding his own blood. The young, fickle disciple who used to argue with his brother and the others about their position in the kingdom, once fortified by the Holy Spirit, became a fearless preacher who was willing to give the ultimate witness to Christ.
* Fr. Joseph Totton is pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Kansas City, MO, where he also serves as chaplain for the Kansas City LIFE Runners Chapter. He ran his first 5K race in April and is now training for his first half-marathon with the National LIFE Runners Team in St. Louis on Oct 21, 2012.
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Faith Challenge: Look at your own life, your own motivations, even in following the Lord, and seek the guidance and courage of the Holy Spirit that your motives may be purified, and your resolve to “drink from His chalice” (i.e. to undergo persecution for the Gospel of Life) might be strengthened.
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Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. James.
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Faith Quote: “About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also.” ~ Acts 12:1-3a
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Through Christ our Lord,
Fr. Totton
John 15:13
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* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and families): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.