29^th.Sunday of the Year - B

Isaiah 53: 10-11; Psalm 32 (33); Heb. 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45

Read: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus and said to him: “Master, we want you to give us what we ask for.” He said to them: “What is it you want me to do for you?” They replied: “Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” But Jesus told them: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with what I must be baptised?” They replied: “We can.” Jesus then said to them: “The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptised you will be baptised but, as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.”

When the other ten heard this, they began to feel indignant with James and John. Jesus called them (the Twelve) to him and said to them: “You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lorded it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you but whoever wants to become great among you must be everyone’s servant. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflect: On his way to Jerusalem to suffer his Passion and death, Jesus was faced with a request from two of his disciples for something which they considered to be theirs by right: “Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” Not even before death did they stop dreaming of their glory! This sheer arrogance shows where lies man’s ambition and what his commands could lead to! The other ten took exception to that request made to Jesus because they were afraid that he would prefer the other two disciples. He explained to them the ideal that the disciples should imitate is that of a servant. In the same way that He “did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”, thus should his disciples act. Anyone who wishes to follow Jesus the Master is regarded as being everybody’s servant.

Pray: Lord, always let it be that we combine our own wishes with yours and that we fulfil your will with a clean heart.