will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law; and they will condemn
him to death. They will hand him over to the foreigners, who will mock him, scourge him
and crucify him. But he will be raised to life on the third day.” Then the mother of James
and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down, to ask a favor. Jesus said to
her, “What do you want?” And she answered, “Here, you have my two sons. Grant that
they may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said to
the brothers, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am
about to drink?” 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.”

Reflect

“To imitate Jesus.” Jesus invites us to follow his example: “Be like the Son of Man, who
came not to be served, but to serve…” (Mt. 20:28) Today’s Gospel narrates Jesus telling
his twelve disciples of his sufferings, death and resurrection. They were heading to
Jerusalem where Jesus would be betrayed and be killed, and on the third day he would be
raised to life. The mother of James and John came to him to ask him to position her two sons
– one at Jesus’ right hand and one at his left. Jesus has just begun telling them that he will
offer himself as a ransom for many and they have missed his point. Self-securing intention
right away blinds us to understand his message. Jesus is always showing us an example to
follow so that we may serve one another. Yet, many times we do not follow his message
but instead our impulse is to secure the self. Lent is a season to let go of our ego and to
die to ourselves in order to serve and give life to others.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2024