“Can you drink the chalice that I drink?”
Jesus’ question to James and John confounds me. I respond haltingly, “I hope so.”
My response has much less bravado than James and John’s self-assured, “We can.”
I write this reflection while recovering from major surgery. I am feeling weighed down by the slow recovery process. I do not feel up to Jesus’ challenge to prove my discipleship by becoming “servant and slave” of all. I’m just trying to get through each day.
But I write this reflection on Pentecost Sunday. On this particular Pentecost Sunday I am graced with a deeper realization that I am not asked to drink the chalice of my sufferings unaided. I realize that I am invited simply to surrender to God’s Spirit and God will give me the strength to drink my chalice -- just as God gave Jesus the strength to drink his chalice.
God could give me no greater gift:
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Member of Creighton University Community
Since its inception in 1997, Online Ministries has been blessed to have myriad members of the Creighton University community offer their personal reflections on the daily scripture readings.
