Gospel: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, are fascinating. They are so fiery in temperament that Jesus playfully nicknames them "Boanerges," or "Sons of Thunder." Today, after a Samaritan town doesn't welcome them they ask Jesus to "call down fire from heaven" (Lk 9). Jesus... 
..."rebukes" them in response. Yesterday John asked Jesus about preventing an exorcist who was doing good, but not following "in our company." Jesus disagreed with him on that one, too. Elsewhere, they ask to be seated at Jesus's "right hand," infuriating the other disciples....
Remember: James and John were two of the First Disciples, called by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee. They immediately left their father's fishing business (a prosperous business, since they had a boat and hired hands) to follow him. One wonders what Zebedee thought about that...
In fact, their fiery temperament is so strong that the story of their bold request to sit at his "right hand," which appears in Mark, is actually changed, a few decades later, in Matthew....
In Matthew, it's their *mother* who asks that question. Apparently it was too much for Matthew to have two disciples ask something like that of Jesus. But Mark, the earlier Gospel, is probably more accurate...
All of this is a reminder that Jesus called many different types of people to join him during his public ministry, including hotheads. (Peter was another hothead, by the way.)
God calls all sorts to the church today as well.
Hotheads welcome. Cooler heads too.
God calls all sorts to the church today as well.
Hotheads welcome. Cooler heads too.
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