GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 20:20-2820 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; 28 even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Meditation: Who doesn't want to be first, and to be
esteemed and honored by others? We seem to have an
unquenchable thirst for recognition and fame, power and authority
to rule our own lives as we please as well as the lives of others.
Should we be surprised to see the disciples of Jesus thirsting
for power, position, and authority? James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, urged their mother to strike a deal with Jesus, their
Master and Messiah. They wanted the distinction of being first and
most important in position, next to Jesus, of course!
Jesus turns authority and power upside down
When Jesus called the twelve apostles to be his inner circle of
disciples who would teach and exercise spiritual authority on his
behalf, he did the unthinkable! Jesus taught contrary to the
world's understanding of power, authority, and position, by
reversing the order of master and servant, lord and subject, first
and last! Jesus wedded authority with love, position with
sacrifice, and service with humility. Authority without love is
over-bearing and slavish. Position without respect and concern for
the subordinate is demeaning and rude. And service without
generosity and sacrifice is cheap and unkind.
Those who wish to serve with the Lord Jesus and to exercise
authority in God's kingdom must be prepared to sacrifice - not
just some of their time, money, and resources - but their whole
lives and all that they possess! Jesus used stark language to
explain what kind of sacrifice he had in mind. His disciples must
drink his cup if they expect to reign with him in his kingdom. The
cup he had in mind was a bitter one involving crucifixion. What
kind of cup does the Lord have in mind for us? For some disciples
such a cup entails physical suffering and the painful struggle of
martyrdom. But for many, it entails the long routine of the
Christian life, with all its daily sacrifices, disappointments,
set-backs, struggles, and temptations.
Christ's way of love and service
A disciple of Jesus must be ready to lay down his or her life -
each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required - and
even to the point of shedding one's blood if necessary for the
sake of Christ and his Gospel. What makes such sacrifice a joy
rather than a burden? It is love - the kind of "love which God has
poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been
given to us" (Romans 5:5). An early church father summed up Jesus'
teaching with the expression: "to serve is to reign with
Christ." We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in
humble service and love for one another, just as Jesus did for our
sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others
as Jesus has taught and modeled for us?
Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom, that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with love that I may give generously and serve joyfully for your sake.
Psalm 126:1-6
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb!
5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy!
6 He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Not to be served but to serve, by John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)
"[Jesus] says, 'The Son of man came not to be
served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.' It
is as if he were saying, 'I willed not even to stop at death but
even in death gave my life as a ransom. For whom? For enemies. For
you. If you are abused, my life is given for you. It is for you.
Me for you.' So you need not be too picky if you suffer the loss
of your honor. No matter how much it is lowered, you will not be
descending as far as your Lord descended. And yet the deep descent
of one has become the ascent of all. His glory shines forth from
these very depths. For before he was made man, he was known among
the angels only. But after he was made man and was crucified, so
far from lessening that glory, he acquired further glory besides,
even that from his personal knowledge of the world."
"So fear not then, as though your honor were
put down. Rather, be ready to abase yourself. For in this way your
glory is exalted even more, and in this way it becomes greater.
This is the door of the kingdom. Let us not then go the opposite
way. Let us not war against ourselves. For if we desire to appear
great, we shall not be great but even the most dishonored of all.
Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things
upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did
not expect. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF
MATTHEW, HOMILY 65.4.25)
