"Teacher, we want...to sit with you, one at your right and the other at your left, in your glory."
The passage constituting today’s Gospel reading is sub-headed “Ambition of James and John” (The New America Bible). It is a subheading that, while it describes the content of the passage, is also meant to high-light Jesus’ teaching on discipleship that it elicited, especially when read in light of the third prediction of the passion that immediately precedes it. On the two previous occasions when Jesus talked about his impending passion, the disciples were left confused. The implications of what Jesus was talking about (him being arrested and put to death) were too much for them to bear. They could not understand why Jesus, a man of God who had dedicated his life to doing good, would be subjected to mistreatment such as he was describing. They could also not understand why following Jesus was so demanding. The incident recounted in today’s Gospel reading makes it clear that the disciples were yet to come to terms with their calling as partners with Jesus in mission.
Sometime after Jesus’ third prediction of his impending passion, the two Zebedee brothers approached Jesus with a request: to be granted the privilege of sitting at either side of him in his glory. Since it was now the third time that Jesus was telling the disciples what was going to happen to him, it can be probable that the two brothers had finally come to understand what Jesus was talking about and had accepted their fate. However, they perhaps didn’t want their sacrifice to go unrewarded. They wanted something in return – if not in this life, then in that other life where Jesus was going to be the ruler (Jesus’ glory). Whatever the two brother’s understanding of Jesus’ glory was, their request to Jesus did not go down well with their fellow disciples, to say the least.
Whereas the two siblings were probably motivated by personal interests (as we all are, most of the time), their sentiments, however, reflect and represent what we would all love to achieve when our life here on earth comes to an end: sharing in the glory of Christ. This is our dream. This is what we all long for. Jesus understood their longing (as any parent would, however much selfish a request of a son/daughter might be). He did not rebuke them for expressing what was in their hearts (the rebuke that came later on was intended for all, for it came only after the other ten had become indignant towards the two). Instead, he laid bare for them what attaining the wish they expressed entails, namely, being baptized with (into) the baptism of Jesus. While the brothers expressed their readiness to be baptized into the baptism of Jesus, he did not assure them of the places they had requested, for as he told them, only God can grant that. However, he did promise them that they will indeed drink his cup of passion and be baptized into his baptism.
While the baptism about which Jesus was talking about referred to his impending passion and death, it was not limited to that. Jesus’ baptism refers to much more. In Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI explores deeply the event and meaning of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The Pope, while acknowledging that baptism was practiced among the Jews by the time Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, notes that there was something totally new in the baptism of Jesus. Yes, baptism as was practiced among the Jews (and picked up by John the baptizer) already had as its goal the leaving behind of one's sinful life even as one embarked on a new, changed life. It was, as it were, very personal. However, at the baptism of Jesus, baptism ceased being personal and took on a communal nature. In his baptism, Jesus identifies with humanity as he takes upon himself humanity's burdens. He becomes one with his brothers and sisters in order to take away their shame and raise them up. Jesus was baptized because of his brothers and sisters. It is in these words of the Pope that I believe Jesus' words take on a new meaning and becomes relevant to us. Can we be baptized into the baptism of Jesus? In other words, can we let our baptism take on a communal nature as Jesus’ did? Can our own baptism also be for our brothers and sisters? Of course we can. And as a matter of fact, it should. For it is in this that our sitting in glory with Jesus hinges. Being baptized with the baptism of Jesus would therefore mean going where Jesus identifies with us in order to identify with him: the other. Our own baptisms should open us up so that we live not only for ourselves but also for others. Jesus did exactly this and was presented forth as the beloved of God. Isn't this what sharing in the glory of Jesus means (becoming God's beloved)?