A teenage boy completes his driver's education course and with his new license in his hand goes to see his dad. "Dad," he says, quite proud of himself, "I'm ready to drive, so I'd like you to get me a car." The father smiles and the two of them hop into the

family sedan. But instead of going to the local new car dealership, the father takes his son to a junkyard. "Here you go, son. Take your pick; if you can get it repaired and running, you can drive it." The son didn't realize the responsibility of driving a car was squarely on his shoulders alone. If he was to realize his reward, it was solely up to him.

Sometimes, one has to wonder about the disciples of Jesus. In today's reading from Mark, James and John seem to be feeling quite proud of themselves, and ask Jesus to promise them something without telling him what it is they want. Now, we realize that Jesus knew what they would ask, but he let them continue

anyway. Basically, they wanted a guaranteed seat in heaven on either side of God's throne. Jesus

gently tells them that not even he can promise something like that; he can only show them the path, how

they choose to get there is up to them.

Within the teachings of Jesus and the beatitudes lies the strength of Christian hope. The beatitudes

give us the hope of heaven as the new Promised Land. Just as James and John came to realize that their

hope for a place in heaven relied on them, we are given hope. Hope is expressed in prayer, especially in

the Lord's Prayer (CCC 1820). As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be willing to sacrifice on a daily basis

all that we have in his name. We must be willing to do whatever it takes to follow the path to heaven that Jesus

has given us.

“But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great

among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will

be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

- Mk 10:43-45