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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Did not come to be served but to serve

Did not come to be served but to serve

Published Jul 24, 2023 04:05 pm

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As it is perfectly understandable for a mother to wish the best for her children, we can easily forgive the mother of James and John for her audacity to ask Jesus for the seat of honor for them in his Kingdom. Jesus does not deny her request but asks the two brothers if they are willing to drink the cup he will drink. He is asking them if they are ready to share his fate, in particular the suffering that awaits him. Aside from accepting suffering, Jesus points to another condition: humility. James and John and the rest of the apostles have places reserved for them in the Father’s Kingdom, but they can only attain them through their humble service. For the moment, James and John who seek to be above the group, and their companions who become indignant at them, are not far from following the practice of the rulers of the Gentiles. They have to do a complete turnabout to follow Jesus who did not come to be served but to serve. Gospel • Matthew 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 ten 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 2023.” E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).

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