MK 10:32-45
The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.
He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up 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; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?”
And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup 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 hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Gospel citations come from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Reflection
Stephen R. Clark ’88
How often do I think I’m one of the ten in this Gospel, when I’m really right there with James and John?
The ten get “angry” with James and John, and I imagine them scornfully thinking, “I would never ask Jesus to do ‘whatever I ask of him’ and I would certainly not ask to sit at his right or left.”
Yet, in my prayers, I frequently ask Jesus that my will be done, rather than thy will be done—not only “just this one time,” but fairly often, if I’m honest with myself. I find my prayers focused on how I want a particular situation resolved, how I want God to intervene for my benefit, instead of asking for the grace to recognize and accept God’s will. And I’m guilty of looking to exalt myself—for example, in desiring recognition for what I think is a good deed, whether I seek outright praise or just that someone else see me do it.
Recognizing the errors of James and John, Jesus re-orients all the disciples (which includes us) with three powerful lessons. One, do not lord authority, or piousness, over others. Two, those who will be exalted are those who humbly serve others, and who place themselves last. Three, if we live our lives by Jesus’ model, we will have a place at God’s eternal table, where the seating arrangement does not matter.
This simple prayer helps keep me focused on these lessons: Lord, thank you for the many gifts and blessings you have bestowed on me, and please grant me the strength to humbly do your will.
Prayer
Father Andrew Gawrych, CSC
Lord, if we drink the cup each of us is poured and given in life, we know that we, your servants, just like the first disciples, will fare no better than you, our master. But if we shirk the cross in our lives, gone too will be our hope. Strengthen us to be faithful to our vocations, so that in serving rather than being served, we will find the dying and the rising equally assured. Amen.
Saint
Pope St. Gregory, you died in exile for seeking justice and righteousness above everything else, pray for us!
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