The disciples request to be positioned near Christ reflects the ambivalence of the human spirit. On the one hand there is the drive to be somebody, a drive often expressed in substituting power for love. On the other hand there is the lure of Incarnate Love, whose power is manifested in weakness. Following the Christ toward downward mobility and giving oneself to others is authentic greatness. The Interface of Rhetoric and Culture in Mark's Gospel.
Questions score points, draw blood, and shame opponents.
The same interpretation applies equally to the phenomenon of answering a question with a counter-question, which also is an aggressive weapon. And by observing who is reduced to silence, we have narrative clues about who triumphed in the question game and who lost. Prof. Felix Just, S.J. - Loyola Marymount University. A developing website including excerpts from Just's dissertation, articles about blind people in the Bible and the ancient world, depictions of blind people in ancient and modern art, and other fascinating resources. We in our own way also should see to it that we do not foolishly squander our efforts at serving men in a thousand various directions when they will touch only the periphery of the evil of this world and can hardly expect to make a transitory ripple on the great sea of its sorrow.