The Request of James and John

Today's Reflections

 

                               

 

     

The Request of James and John 

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Mt 20:20-28

²⁰The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached [Jesus] with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. ²¹He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” ²²Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” ²³He replied, “My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left [, this] is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” ²⁴When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. ²⁶But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; ²⁷whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. ²⁸Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection:

Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Zebedee’s wife (perhaps a relative of Jesus) lobbies for her two sons, James and John. You can forgive her for being very interested in having her sons promoted to high positions. But Jesus teaches the two sons and the rest of the Twelve that true greatness in his kingdom comes not from positions of power and domination but from humble service: “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.”

That is the mind and way of Jesus. How far we are, even church people, from Jesus’ mind. Let us ask Jesus to give us his way of regarding things.

Be a servant-leader!