Contemplating today’s culture through the eyes of St. Francis.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him [Jesus] and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Mark 10:35
As a child, I found puppets rather boring. A hand puppet allowed me to talk to it or, better yet, go after my brother with a clawing motion. However, that was the extent of its use. I never understood why hand puppets were so popular.
Next came the marionette – a wooden figure with flexible joints, each tied together with a string and looped onto a wooden cross-shaped handle. With a twist of the wrist, I could make the figure dance, bend, sit, and assume all sorts of contorted positions. I liked being in control of its movements. Yet, that toy also soon lost its appeal. Its movements were too restrictive for creative play.
One lesson that I learned from both types of puppets was that I liked being the “puppet master” – the person in control. The master was the one who could call the shots. As I grew older, I saw God as the big puppet master who controlled the strings of my life. (And, I secretly envied God with all of that power.)
We find the disciples wanting to control the show in Mark 10. James and John had seen what Jesus could do, and each felt as if they were one of Jesus’ favorite followers. The disciples saw themselves as “special.” They could unabashedly direct Jesus on what to do, and Jesus would surely grant their requests. “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” The two disciples specify their remark by clamoring for leadership positions in Jesus’ kingdom.
The story’s focus on the disciple’s arrogant request may very well reflect our own skewed perceptions. Too often we like to think we are in control of life and its events. We at times assume that we can become the “puppet master,” pulling the strings of a marionette-like God who dances to our bidding. If we are good, if we are hardworking, if we pray hard, then God will respond and give us what we want. We think we are in control. And, when we repeatedly do not get what we want or request, we find ourselves unsure of what is happening.
The problem with the marionette thinking of James and John to which many people ascribe is that it is an illusion. We can never be puppet masters of God; and neither is God a puppet master of us. God does not control our lives, thoughts, or deeds, but simply gives us the freedom to respond to life out of love as Jesus did.
How do we “cut the strings” in order to live freely in Christ? The first step is recognizing when you are caught up in a situation of wanting to control something or someone else; or if you are being manipulated. Identify the feeling is the second step. Are you attempting to be a “puppet master” to get out of your situation, or are you feeling like someone else is controlling you in the situation? Step three is to realize that you are neither a puppet master nor a marionette. Theologically, there is another choice, i.e., detachment from our false illusions of control and how this world operates.
We are simply participating in an unfolding world of God’s love. God will do what God is going to do, and our work is not to impede the unfolding love of God. When we want to control a situation or other people, or we allow ourselves to be controlled, we are focused solely on our ego (self-image). Puppeteering will never work.
Detachment requires cutting the strings to our former way of looking at life. Jesus gives us an example when he said, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43-44)
Prayers and Blessings,
Fr. John
