In the Gospel (Mk 10:35-45) for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear that James and John are rebuked for seeking positions of high honor in God's Kingdom. In fact all twelve were reminded that: "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." and that "...those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,..."
Having listened, we may ask: "Is it ever permissible to accept honors, rank or high position? Does not humility require that we must seek to be a servant and never a master?" To me, it seems that Jesus was criticizing worldly leaders, for lording it over the ruled, not for exercising authority. In his Introduction to the Devout Life, Part 3, Chapter IV, St Francis de Sales puts it this way:
"Just as our merchant-ships coming from Peru with gold and silver often bring apes and parrots likewise, because these cost but little and do not add to the weight of a cargo, so good men seeking to grow in grace can take their natural rank and position, so long as they are not engrossed by such things, and do not involve themselves in anxiety, contention or ill-will on their account. I am not speaking here of those whose position is public, or even of certain special private persons whose dignity may be important. In all such cases each man must move in his own sphere, with prudence and discretion, together with charity and courtesy."
Honors, rank and privilege have their place, and may enhance one's ability to build the Kingdom in the course of one's daily work. There is, however, always the danger that honors will go to one's head and become a source of "anxiety, contention, or ill-will." We see it happening all the time. Even a short time viewing the recent Presidential and vice-presidential debates provides ample evidence. How I wish that Romney, Ryan, Obama and Biden would head this sentence from St. Francis:
"Those who are punctilious about rank, title or precedence, both lay themselves open to criticism and degradation, and also throw contempt on all such things; because an honour which is valuable when freely paid, is worthless when sought for or exacted."
The rest of us should wear our honors lightly and only insofar as they help us to do our jobs.
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