It is a circle that comes back around, spiraling in and down as it reforms and refashions us in the image of the beloved Child of God. There is the call to discipleship and to catch people in the net of the Kingdom the call to deny one’s very self and take up the cross that is laid on us by our sharing the truth and sufferings on behalf of justice and there is the call to community in the Resurrection. Just when we think we know, there is something to face that we never expected and did not take into account. We are called again and again to learn-often the hard way-what following in the footsteps of the crucified and risen beloved Son of God might mean. This story is a paradigm for Mark’s Gospel.
The king had become a true disciple, ready to begin his new life, but the other was just beginning to learn what it means to listen, to obey, to follow the master and to know what being a true disciple might entail. The man obeyed, chastened, seething with bitterness and confusion. It is time you learned obedience once again, and he will take your place as my head disciple.” You tested him as I instructed you and then you did something on your own that was not necessary. “Wait! When you go to tell him and bring him here, you must take his place.” The disciple was stunned and asked why. He has become a disciple.”Īs the head disciple turned to leave, his master’s words brought him up short. The master listened and said, “You are right. Elated, the head disciple ran to his master and excitedly told him that, yes, the king was ready to join the other disciples. Again, the king-disciple straightened up, bowed low and went about his work. And so as the former king bent over his task, the head disciple kicked the bucket a second time. Then the king-disciple began to clean up the floor.īut the head disciple wanted to make sure. This time the king-disciple did not react with anger, but merely looked the head disciple in the eye with gentleness and bowed before him. “Please,” he said, “I think this time he will be ready.” The head disciple was given permission. The head disciple asked to test the king again. More weeks went by, and the disciples were feeling that the master was being far too hard on someone who had once been king and yet had done so much to change.
When this was reported, the master knew the king was getting close. The third time, the king controlled his words and his face, but looked rigidly at the floor, struggling. When the former king was tested next, he held his tongue, but his face grew red and his eyes glared.
When the disciple reported this, the master shook his head saying, “As I thought, he’s not ready yet.” If the king were still the king, he’d have had him severely punished for his actions. He turned on the disciple in rage, telling him that he was lucky. When the buckets were dumped, the king was livid. He was to watch the king-disciple’s reaction and report back. The master told the head disciple to spill the contents of the slop buckets over the floor the king had just washed. They came to him saying: “Is the king ready yet to be one of us?” Finally, the master sent his number-one disciple to test the king’s readiness. Weeks went by, and the other disciples grew uncomfortable with the way the master was ignoring the new disciple. He was assigned to collect and empty the slop buckets, humiliating for a former king. The king pledged his obedience and life to the master. The master said the king would find it extremely hard to be a worthy disciple, because of his former position and because he must undergo a harsh apprenticeship, obeying the master without question. Immediately the king gave up his throne, his power and possessions, and begged to become the man’s disciple. Once upon a time there was a king who heard the message of an itinerant holy man and was struck to the heart. But more to the point, it is better described as a primer on conversion. Our Tampa Family Law partner since 2015 got 36 Real Leads in the first month.Scholars have referred to Mark’s Gospel as a passion narrative with a few introductory texts. Exclusive, Local, Targeted Leads, FAST! Skyrocket your sales with 20-50+ targeted and exclusive leads your very first month when you trust Mark My Words Media as your Yonkers psychologist local marketing agency.
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