The Rev. Shawn Fisher is the husband of his wife of 27 years Linda, father to his 24 year-old son Garrett, a social activist, singer-songwriter and is the Senior Pastor at Bloomfield Congregational Church. 

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45 (NRSV)

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.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 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?’ 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; 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.’

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 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. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

Reflection: “I Have A Request for Jesus”

For the first time reading this passage, I think I “get” the request of James and John when they boldly ask Jesus to do whatever they ask next. The “Sons of Thunder” as Jesus nicknamed them because of their passion ask, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” It’s a big ask. It made others mad. A lot of bold requests do. But I get it. They wanted assurances about their future and the future of the world.    So do I. And right now, I want to ask Jesus, “Will you please make the world return to a sense of decency and respect for reality?” “Will you please bring Your light to shine on justice and reverse the perversions being done to Your truth?”   I want to see more fairness, truth and justice in the world. I want to see a return to a functional political system. I want to see the end of bowing down to false prophets and the clinging to "false facts". This desire comes from a genuine concern for the health of our democracy and the truth itself. Still, Jesus’ response reminds me that I can bring my desires to God, but I can’t dictate the how and when (or even “if”) a response will come. I’d love it if God would follow Nike’s theme and “Just Do It.” I’d love it if Jesus would align the world more with compassion, justice and love-in-action. But, it’s not my call. I can still ask though. You can still ask. We can still pray. I certainly plan to, especially between now and November 5th (and beyond). I know that prayer works. I know that to my core. Maybe, not like I thought when I was young, but in even more powerful ways. I know my prayer needs to lead to my participation. I need to act and inspire others to action. Because, this justice thing – this making earth more like heaven – requires our presence. It requires our passion. It requires our action. It requires our involvement, especially now, making sure this election, this nation, is not lost to that which God abhors. Jesus challenged James and John to drink the cup with Him. We too are invited to that profoundly important work. May I, may we, accept that invitation to participate in bending the moral arc of the universe back towards justice. To shine the light on the lies that threaten to destroy God’s children and God’s creation, even when there are consequences for those actions.

PRAYER

God of Love-in-Action, these are challenging times. May we have the passion of the “Sons of Thunder”, to be bold. To bring decency, reality, compassion and love-in-action back into the world – even if the cup we accept is difficult. Amen
   

New Prayer Requests:

We ask churches and church leaders to join us in the following prayers either by sharing them during worship, printing them in bulletins, or sharing them in some other way. To make a prayer request, please contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane at cochranem@sneucc.org.

Prayers of Intercession:

• Prayers for peace as wars and conflicts continue to escalate around the world. 
• For those grieving or suffering due to the ~13,200 gun violence deaths that happened in the US since the start of the year. 
• For more fairness, truth and justice in the world.
• For the friends and family of The Rev. Susan Owen who passed away on September 29, 2024.  Rev. Owen held ordained ministerial standing in the New Haven Association and served churches in Hamden and Manchester, CT.

Prayers of Joy and Thanksgiving:    

• For those who accept accept the invitation to participate in bending the moral arc of the universe back towards justice.
• For those taking back Christianity. 

This Week in History:

October 15, 1990 (34 years ago): Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending Cold War tensions.  [History] 

“Study the past if you would define the future.”
— Confucius