Mother of Zebedee's Children

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Mark 10:35-45 CLASSIC POEM: The Mother of Zebedee’s Children George MacDonald SHE knelt, she bore a bold request, Though shy to speak it out; Ambition, even in mother’s breast, Before him stood in doubt. “What is it?” “These my sons, allow To sit on thy right hand And on thy left, O Lord, when thou Art ruler in the land.” “Ye know not what ye ask.” There lay A baptism and a cup 10 They understood not, in the way By which he must go up. She would have had them lifted high Above their fellow-men; Sharing their pride with mother-eye, Had been blest mother then. But would she praise for granted quest, Counting her prayer well heard, If of the three on Calvary’s crest They shared the first and third? She knoweth neither way nor end; There comes a dark despair, When she will doubt if this great friend Can answer any prayer. Yet higher than her love can dare, His love her sons will set: They shall his cup and baptism share, And share his kingdom yet. They, entering at his palace-door, Shall shun the lofty seat; Shall gird themselves, and water pour, And wash each other’s feet. For in thy kingdom, lowly Lord, Who sit with thee on high Are those who tenderest help afford In most humility. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Zebedee’s Gift Philip Kolin Snippet: … Then one morning everything changed. The sky spired with an eastern light as the waves wrapped our boat like a prayer shawl. … [ Read the Full Poem ]