The American Dream, Redefined: Mark 10:35-45 - Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

White Picket Fence by roujo. Creative commons image on flickr.com

³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” ³⁹ They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
  ⁴¹ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴² So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³ But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (NRSV)

They’re calling it The American Dream.

It’s a $2 billion, 4.8-million-square-foot super-mall under construction just ten miles from New York City in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  In addition to over four hundred retail shops and restaurants, it will also include a themed amusement and water park, an aquarium, and an eighteen-story indoor ski slope. 

It’s slated to open in 2017—but it’s been under construction since 2003.  The entire project was put on hold during the recession, as the developer went into bankruptcy.  (It’s worth pointing out that this project was conceived by the very same firm that built the Pittsburgh Mills mall, and we all know how that’s turned out…)

Not too long ago, a new firm picked up the unfinished project and work has resumed. 

But the big question on everyone’s mind: when it’s built, will people come?

At the symbolic level, its success or failure may indicate whether or not the proverbial American Dream is still alive…

So what is the American Dream, anyway?  Looking at this, we’re a long way off from the ideal of hard work and persistence leading to success and prosperity; and equal opportunity for all… 

But could we, as Christians living in America, dare to seize upon and project a profoundly new vision to our society?

What if we defined the dream in terms of relationships instead of wealth?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples James and John had a dream.  Brazenly, ask Jesus to “give them what they want.”  Honor and glory is what they desire: a seat at Jesus’ right and a seat at his left.  They believe they’re worthy—because they say they are willing to drink the cup that Jesus drinks, and be baptized with Jesus’ baptism.  We can’t know for sure, but they’ve probably already forgotten everything Jesus had spoken about his suffering and death.

Either way, Jesus teaches his disciples that what James and John are dreaming of is very much of this world: a world where power and privilege is used to serve the interests of a fortunate few; where status and stuff are the hallmarks of a good life.

Very little has changed in the last two thousand years.  But what is different about our place and time is the individualism: for even while it is good and proper that our culture celebrates hard work, ingenuity, and tenacity, we deny our basic responsibility toward our neighbor.  There’s precious little sympathy—or charity—for persons in need.  We say “God helps those who help themselves,” which is not in the Bible at all.  Human life cannot flourish when it’s every person for themselves.  Human life cannot flourish when power and privilege are exercised for the private good, rather than the public good.  Human life cannot flourish when we fail to recognize our most basic duty to lift up those who fall, for whatever reason…

Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.”  No human life can ever be fully self-sufficient.  We all fall down—and when we do, we need more than government-administered safety nets or hand-outs.  We need people—people who serve, like Jesus…

Jesus’ divine power and glory meant nothing to him compared to the people and the world God created in love.  Jesus made himself a slave to a humanity that would reject him and nail him to a cross.  But his death and resurrection set us free from slavery to sin and death.  It’s his service that saves.  His glory is his suffering and humiliation for you and for all.

Salvation is a holy trust that no matter what happens to you or what you do, the arms of Jesus will save you from falling into death. 

In the kingdom of God, true greatness is being the hands that uplift the fallen; the ears that hear the cries of the hurting; the voices that speak for the voiceless; the arms that are open for the rejected.

But this is only part of it…  Humility is recognizing that we need each other.  No one can live in complete independence and self-sufficiency.  But our need for others goes beyond the need for help in times of need.  We need others to grow in our faith.  We need relationships so that the Holy Spirit may shape and form us into the people God desires for us to be.  Sometimes, people who bless us the most will be the people that the rest of the world would dismiss as anything but great… 

In the end, we can’t really experience any real peace if there’s no one there to lift you when you’re fallen.  In the same way, there will be no real joy in life if we’re so wrapped up in our own affairs to see what a gift we can be to others, just by being there for them. 

We taste the new life of God’s kingdom in relationships of mutual belonging.  No matter what happens, Jesus will be there—and we will be there for each other.  This is greatness of life.  With all the blessings we enjoy as Americans, may this be the new American Dream.

References

Hurley, Amanda Kolson. "Will Anyone Come to the American Dream Super Mall?" 9 October 2015. The Atlantic. Article. 13 October 2015.