Mark 10:35-45

Pentecost +20 - Year B

Mark 10:35-45

“Heads I win; tails you lose.” So we desire it when we express our desires to G*D, whether directly or through some intermediary such as Jesus (the desire is not his to grant).

James and John are thinking about some future glory; Jesus is all about present doxa (challenging what seems to be accepted belief and promoting the glory and good of realized eschatology or Crossan’s sapiential eschatology [A difference between John the Baptist and Jesus can be summarized in this way, according to Crossan: "In apocalyptic eschatology, we are waiting for God to act. In sapiential eschatology, God is waiting for us to act."]{what a nested interlude this turned out to be}).

The issue presented to us is whether we are with G*D, or not. Positioning is not relevant - whether right or left or before or behind or above or below or within or beyond.

If we are with G*D we will be with one another and all of creation. The question of special privilege is spurious.

What it comes down to is heads we all win; tails no one loses. We’re pulling for you.