THE WORD
1 Pt 1,18-25 / Mk 10,32-45
They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, 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 and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish (me) to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left .” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” 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 or at my le is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
IN OTHER WORDS
Some people are interested in predictions in horoscopes or by so-called holy persons who claim to have a direct communication with the Almighty. Remember that pastor who predicted that the world would end on May 21, 2011? It roused people’s attention. Now in the gospel, the Lord Himself gives an accurate, blow-by-blow prediction of His passion, death and resurrection; and what reaction does He get from His very close twelve apostles? Nothing! No interest at all!
Not only did they ignore/disregard the Lord’s prediction, two of them, James and John were interested in something more self-uplifting: positions of power and grandeur beside the Lord in His kingdom. They even bragged about being ready to drink of the chalice of sacrifice if this would clinch their ambition. This attitude, of course, drew the ire and envy of the other apostles.
The Lord, ever so patient and understanding, took the opportunity to teach them then, and teach us now, the lesson of true greatness and leadership: the truly great leader is him/her who serves others humbly, in imitation of Jesus Himself who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” But we should not forget the earlier lesson of Christ’s prediction of His passion, death and resurrection: this was His mission of love for humanity, humbly submitting Himself to the will of the Father; so that we may be saved and have our places with Him in His everlasting kingdom.
- Fr. Lino Evora Nicasio, SVD | National Shrine of Saint Jude addeus
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
