I think we can agree, Jesus is not some Genie, ready to grant us our hearts desire. Discipleship is not wish fulfillment. That’s not why we’re here. I think it’s important not to forget, as we are faced with the request of James and John today to sit at the right and left of Jesus.

Listen to the podcast of the Siobhan Sargent’s sermon 10 21 2012 Wishing on Jesus.

Who actually is positioned at Jesus right and left as he hangs on the cross? It’s not these glory seeking disciples James and John, but it is in fact two thieves.

The hard and complicated truth is the world needs saving. 16,000 children die from hunger related causes nearly every day. That’s one child every five seconds. In the United States, nearly one in five children lives in a family that struggles to put food on the table. The prison pipeline continues to cripple minority and poor communities in this country and in turn we’re all hurt. These are not facts that can be ignored, or wished away. It requires action, commitment and responsibility.