They became indignant
Published Jul 25, 2022 12:05 am
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Parents usually want their children to have the best in life, even to a fault. The mother of James and John is no different. So she asks Jesus to make them sit, one at his right and the other at his left when his Kingdom comes. Does she and her sons know what they are asking for? In the first place, why does this mother, like a stage mother, still speak for her sons who are already of age?
Certainly, it is not clear to them what they are asking for. So Jesus clarifies who are entitled to sit beside him in his Kingdom. Actually, nobody is entitled. We know later on that only Jesus sits at God’s right hand. No one is in between him and the Father.
Jesus takes this occasion to teach all his disciples, not just the two and their mother, that whoever desires to be great and the number one should become the servant among them. He should become their slave. In this way, nobody will be indignant.
Gospel • Mt 20:20-28
The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the 10 heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Parents usually want their children to have the best in life, even to a fault. The mother of James and John is no different. So she asks Jesus to make them sit, one at his right and the other at his left when his Kingdom comes. Does she and her sons know what they are asking for? In the first place, why does this mother, like a stage mother, still speak for her sons who are already of age?
Certainly, it is not clear to them what they are asking for. So Jesus clarifies who are entitled to sit beside him in his Kingdom. Actually, nobody is entitled. We know later on that only Jesus sits at God’s right hand. No one is in between him and the Father.
Jesus takes this occasion to teach all his disciples, not just the two and their mother, that whoever desires to be great and the number one should become the servant among them. He should become their slave. In this way, nobody will be indignant.
Gospel • Mt 20:20-28
The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the 10 heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.