It’s amazing how many interesting stories you hear when you’re cloistered in a ladies room stall. It seems that some
people still carry the notion of children, that if we can’t see someone, they can’t see, or hear, us. That leads to a lot of uninhibited prattle destined to become tomorrow’s latest gossip.
I’ve often thought that if I were an investigative reporter instead of a Catholic journalist I could be making a lot more money.
On a rare journey to my local book store, two young women came barreling into the ladies room, the first one frantically texting on her cell phone, followed shortly thereafter by the other, responding to the text.
They both seemed to be out of breath. I soon found out they had sprinted to the ladies room to escape the attentions of a young male friend who had unexpectedly shown up in the store.
Forgoing the phone, one girl squealed, "Oh, my God, can you believe it?! Is it possible to be stalked by a friend? He’s such a …" (add in a few hundred words spoken in a few seconds and you get the picture).
Within the next two minutes I had enough information on them, their male friend/stalker, his former girlfriend, his new girlfriend and all their family situations to write a popular sitcom. Unfortunately I didn’t have a notebook.
They then spent the next few minutes scheming. It became the typical clandestine conversation behind closed doors scenario; the plotting, the planning, the self-assurance that comes from believing that your plans are secure. Sadly, young people are not the only ones who engage in this stealth strategy; and adults, especially Christian adults, should know better.
But James and John didn’t know better. There was a reason Jesus called them Sons of Thunder. They had plans. These two disciples, overconfident and ambitious, used this behind closed doors strategy in an attempt to wrest the finest seats in the house of Heaven from Jesus.
And as if that alone weren’t enough, they brought their mother, Salome, in on the plan to ask for them. Maybe on some level they realized that their accomplishments or their faith really didn’t warrant a throne next to the Son of God, so they hoped their mother’s influence, as one who supported Jesus’ ministry, might get it for them.
Upon Salome’s request, Jesus basically responded, "Are you kidding? Do you know what you’re asking?" That’s paraphrased, of course, but he made it clear that to earn a place next to him in heaven they had to be willing to walk in his shoes. He asked them if they were willing to drink of the cup he would drink, and in their eagerness for honor and glory they replied, "No problem."
Jesus promised them they would get their chance, but he didn’t make the promise they were hoping to hear—that they would be first in the Kingdom of Heaven, sitting at his right and left hand.
James did, however, eventually earn the distinction of being first. He was the first apostle to be martyred, his powerful preaching having raised the ire of Herod Agrippa. It is said the man who was to lead James to his death was so moved by James’ passionate testimony as a Christian that the man acknowledged being a Christian himself and asked James to forgive him for his deception. James forgave him with a kiss and they were both martyred together.
John, on the other hand, was the last Apostle to die and became known as the "beloved disciple," the "Apostle of Charity." It was John who received from Jesus, as he was crucified, the all-important task of caring for Jesus’ mother, Mary.
What happened to change these brothers from the self-important, ambitious disciples they once were to the powerful, self-sacrificing Apostles they were at the time of their deaths? The Holy Spirit happened. And love happened, a love for Jesus so strong that both men allowed their hearts to be open to grace, to be humbled, to be used by God for God’s purposes, not personal ambition.
When we end up behind closed doors, we do best to remember our plans are not always God’s plans.
"Do not seek from the Lord high office, or the seat of honor from the king … you may be partial to the powerful, and so mar your integrity." Sirach 7:4, 6b
Sheldon Kennedy photo on Unsplash.
