In contemporary psycho-babble, you might say James and John had major “control issues” surrounding their self-serving request of Jesus in today’s Gospel. “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

One can practically imagine Jesus’ eyeballs rolling as he asks them in reply, “And just what is it you want me to do for you?”

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How perfect is it, that just as the nights are beginning to cool way down as befits the autumn season now upon us, just as summer’s heat is starting to back off a bit, just as September has subtly segued into October, just as we throw an extra blanket on our beds at home to keep us warm through the crisp early morning hours, we now bring out our communal blankets to be blessed and sent into the world?  The timing couldn’t be better.

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