In the movie, Out of Africa, the heroine says, “When the gods want to punish you they answer your prayers.” The mother of James and John had a prayer for her boys — that they would play prominent roles in the movement that Jesus was starting. She/they didn’t understand the cost that would be involved in assuming those positions. Jesus said in reply, “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” This reminds me of the current situation of St. James in Renew My Church. Our prayer has been that our church can continue to serve the people in our neighborhood. Since we seem to have gotten what we wanted now we have to pay the price of greater devotion and service.
