REFLECTIONS TODAY
Mark does not idealize the disciples. Quite often they do not understand Jesus. Up to the time Jesus travels to Jerusalem and quite plainly predicts his suffering, they still think that he will go to the holy city to be acclaimed as a political Messiah. Naturally, they hope to be able to rule with him.
The sons of Zebedee wish to sit one at Jesus’ right and the other at his left; they want to be his closest advisers and ministers. The indignation of the other ten shows that neither the two brothers nor they have understood what makes for greatness in the Kingdom of God. It is not lordly power but one’s willingness to serve, even at the cost of one’s life.
Jesus speaks of drinking the cup. This refers to the acceptance of the destiny assigned by God (Ps 11:6). And his destiny is to be handed over and to be put to death (Mk 10:34). Only by drinking the cup will he attain to his glory, the glory assigned him by the Father.
Gospel • Mark 10:32-45
The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him.
“Behold, we are going to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the 10 heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For 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 2026.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.