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She wasn't literally a stage mother, but Leena had shown most of the symptoms. She had had high hopes for her sons Jim and Johnny before Jesus came on the scene. As Leena sat waiting in one of the many porches of the great Temple, she tried to recapture the moment she had first laid out the future for her sons. "Oh, yes," she mused softly. It was on that warm spring day two years ago when her sons were eating aleph-a-bet soup in the kitchen. "One of you," she said solemnly, "might be the Messiah one day. I can feel it in my bones. Don't ask me how I know. I could be wrong but I will not entertain that possibility. One thing is certain." The ladle paused above the aleph-a-bet soup. "... I'm not taking any chances. Eat your food like you're in training for the position."

Leena shifted uneasily on the stone bench as the thought flashed through her mind that the instructions she had given her sons that day were just a ploy to get them to eat. She stiffened and arched her eyebrows, disdainful that such an idea should enter her mind ... that she might even be tempted to talk about messianic expectations just to get her sons to eat their soup!

Leena momentarily let the memory of that day fade as she shaded her eyes with her hand and scanned the temple courtyard. "I wonder where he is," she muttered. "They said he would meet me at noon and it is now five after twelve." As she squinted in the noonday sun, she remembered how positive she had been that her sons were destined for glory paths. She was so convinced that at least one of them would be the Messiah that the same day she had ordered them to go out of their way to help people. "Let people know you're there to help them. Better they should gradually come to know who it is that will save them. We don't want surprises. I don't believe in shock treatments."

But Leena was also aware of practical necessities her sons had to consider, such as supporting themselves while they were waiting for the big day. So, immediately she issued the third instruction. "Suppose you get some part-time employment. Nothing fancy, mind you, just enough work to carry you along."

"What did you have in mind, Ma?" Jim queried as he paddled his spoon in the aleph-a-bet soup.

"What do I have in mind, you ask. How about running a bank or floating a fishing fleet?" she suggested without blinking an eye.

"Hmmm. Floating a fishing fleet sounds good to me," Johnny responded without missing a beat. "Jim and I have had experience fishing. We've caught mackerel off the pier."

"Running a bank is more suited to my talents," Jim added seriously. "Finances are what I'm good at. Rabbi Schnickel is always complimenting me on being a big spender. 'Jim,' he says, 'you must be a big spender because you're always adding your two cents every minute of the day.' "

Leena smiled broadly as she remembered how she had beamed with admiration when her sons picked up on her suggestions. She had told them, "What I'm hearing fills me with pride. Not just an armada of mackerel boats but the First Jerusalem Bank, and all in our family. Such smarts you are. Who but my sons would have thought of combining the shipping and banking business in one family? What have I done to deserve such wunderkinden? I say to myself as I walk down the street, 'So, Leena, why shouldn't these people be shaking their heads at me the way they do? They know I'm the mama of boys who are going somewhere.' " In the excitement of the moment Leena had forgotten how the people who talked with her about her sons were concerned about whether her sons were going anywhere. Invariably she gave the same response. Forefinger raised high in the air, she'd say cryptically, "Somewhere," and leave her questioner dumbfounded.

The chatter of a group of tourists going through the courtyard interrupted Leena's daydreaming. "Still no sign of him," she thought as she scanned as far as she could. "No one even resembling him." It was important that she see him today because he would be off on the road the next day. And then she didn't know when she would see him again. Leena had done as much as she could for her sons. Yet, there was one thing more she intended to do and only he could help her. Only he could help her? She laughed to herself. Just two years ago she thought that by now everybody would be asking her for help or better, help from her sons. After all, she had told them to train for the position by letting everybody know they were there to help them. And that they did -- very well! Frequently, men and women who didn't even know Leena came over to her while she was shopping at the market and they'd ask her why her kids were out to save the world. Leena, of course, had the answer to that question but she had to keep it to herself for the time being. She had no idea that within six months her dreams for her sons would come to an end.

She wasn't prepared for that fateful day when both of her sons came home and told her they had decided the shipping and banking businesses were simply pipe dreams. They had deceived themselves into thinking they were capable of running businesses.

"We ought to be glad we catch mackerel off the pier," Johnny said as he paddled his way through more aleph-a-bet soup at the kitchen table.

"And as for banking," Jim added, "what made us think we knew anything about financing? I haven't even earned enough money to practice keeping my own finances straight."

What she was prepared for least of all, however, was their disavowal of the messianic expectations she had for them. "What do you mean?" she asked them. "You're not training to be the Messiah? But it's our future...." she protested.

"Our future?" Jim looked at her. "Our future? I can't even seem to take care of myself. How can I think of saving others?"

"Yeah!" Johnny added. "What I need is for someone to help me. Besides I don't think a lot of the people want our help. And one more thing, Ma. We found someone who's got a message we like and he's asked us to join him. His name is Jesus...."

Once more Leena's thoughts were interrupted.

"Hello, Leena." A man in his thirties took both of Leena's hands into his as he sat next to her on the bench. He had finally arrived -- this Jesus who got the position she had always thought one of her sons was meant to have. He had a kind look in his eyes, and she smiled as she remembered how angry she got every time she heard her sons mention his name, that is, until she saw the peace he brought into their lives. Now they were going somewhere, and it was he who had given them the direction. Gradually, she began to see in him something very special. Leena's way of admitting this was to tell her sons, "So maybe he's had more time to train for the position than you. I will say this much. He eats well and he's always helping people. So, who am I to complain?"

Now here he was in front of her. She had wanted to see him. If her sons couldn't get the top job, maybe ... Leena cleared her throat, "Jesus, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Yes?" Jesus said apprehensively. He knew Leena well, very well. "Promise me that these sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and the other at your left, in your kingdom." There was a moment of silence. He had heard some wild requests before but this one beat them all. Was she serious? He studied her face. She was serious.

"Leena," Jesus started out slowly, "you just don't know what you're asking. Are your sons able to drink the cup that I have to drink?"

"Of course, of course," Leena blurted. "If they can't, I'll train them for it."

"Training or not, they will drink from the same cup," Jesus said sadly. "But sitting at my right hand or at my left isn't mine to give. That's up to my Father to decide." Leena thought it best not to press the issue. Her sons had told her she could ask Jesus this one favor, but they also told her they would accept his answer as final. Still, she didn't think it would hurt to make one last simple request. "Do you think you could put in a good word with your Father? I mean it wouldn't be too taxing for you, would it?" Jesus laughed and when he laughed there was just enough kindness in it to leave the matter open. She knew her sons would be taken care of.


Reflection


Leena's high hopes may seem an exaggeration. After all, who among us has messianic expectations for our children or ourselves? Preposterous, isn't it? Or is it? Come to think of it, most of us look to a person, place, or thing as we would to the Messiah. A lover or friend or relative becomes all important to us. We devote our energies insisting the other be everything we want and need that person to be. No longer are we capable of recognizing the friend or lover as a person with strengths and weaknesses; we see only what we need to see, i.e., the fulfillment of our expectations, a messiah.

Of course no one person is capable of being all that we need and want because, unwittingly, what we really want is all and only the All can satisfy us. Sooner or later the idols we have created begin to crumble either because the people we have forced onto pedestals don't want to be there or we finally "see" through the haze of our projections to the earthly mortal in front of us. As a result, our high hopes turn into shattered hopes. We experience disillusionment.

In "High Hopes" Jim and John see through their messianic expectations for themselves by recognizing their limitations: they can't run fishing fleets or banks. Their hopes are shattered and they are disillusioned. But disillusionment serves a purpose. It sets them free to find the Messiah who can really give them meaning and purpose for their lives. Likewise, Leena has to experience the same kind of disillusionment before she can see how Jesus gives new direction to her sons' lives.

In our own search for the Messiah we may have to be disillusioned not once but several times in order to recognize the difference between our idols and the one who is truly the Messiah.