mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down, to ask a favor. (...)“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, (...) whoever wants to be great
in your community, let him minister to the community. (...) Be like the Son of Man who came, not to be served but to serve, and to
give his life to redeem many.”
Reflection:
Jesus should have been disappointed at the bunch of people who
gathered around Him and called Him Master. While He was talking about His
impending Passion, Death and Resurrection, they are preoccupied with the idea
of power and authority. Everybody is jockeying for position without regard to
His apprehensions of the future to come. Brushing aside His own concerns,
Jesus has to once again school them into the true meaning of greatness.
Instead of focusing on His own coming trials, He has to teach His disciples to the
very end. This is dedication beyond the call of duty. True leaders sacrifice their
own preoccupation to address the concerns of His followers. That is why Jesus
is rewarded with disciples who followed Him till the very end.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021