They answered, “We can.”
Jesus replied, “You will indeed drink my cup; but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant.
That will be for those, for whom my Father has prepared it.”
The other ten heard all this, and were angry with the two brothers.
Then Jesus called them to him and said, “You know, that the rulers of nations behave like tyrants, and the powerful oppress them.
It shall not be so among you: whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community.
And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the servant of all.
Be like the Son of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”
REFLECTION:
We are in an age, which recognizes effort. Positions are achieved by working hard and getting tasks done.
For Jesus, however, effort is important but not to gain places of honor.
In fact, there is no position or upward rank to achieve. To exert effort serving our brothers and sisters is the be-all
and end-all of following Jesus. We follow Jesus horizontally not vertically—towards others not up high.
When I serve for promotion, I am not really serving—I am pushing myself up.
James said he and his brother can drink the cup Jesus is about to drink. It could be easy to suffer with Jesus,
but to suffer with a leper, a criminal, an outcast is another challenge. Similarly, it is possible—even prestigious—to feed,
defend, give my life to serve our parish priest. The challenge is whether I can do the same to a nameless parishioner.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020
