REFLECTIONS TODAY
The way of life of the disciples is the way of life of Jesus himself. The life and death of Jesus are subsumed under the concept of service. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for the many. This is what “drinking the chalice” means. Jesus asks the two brothers if they are also ready to drink the chalice. The brothers, in their enthusiasm and without probably realizing the full consequence of what they are getting into, readily acquiesce, “We can” (v 22).
Jesus says they will, but only after they have understood the full meaning of discipleship. This Gospel is used for the feast of St. James, because as Acts narrates, he would be the first among the Twelve to “drink the chalice.” He was arrested by Herod Agrippa I and killed by the sword (Acts 12:2). When he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews, the king also arrested Peter, who would be later rescued by an angel.
St. James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. (The name Santiago is the local Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu, “Saint James”). The traditional pilgrimage to the grave of the saint, known as the “Way of St. James,” has been the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics from the early Middle Ages onwards.
First Reading • 2 Cor 4:7-15
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
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 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: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.