Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28
The
mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him
homage, wishing to ask him for something. He 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." Jesus said
in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice
that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied,
"My chalice 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." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two
brothers. But 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. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great
among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be
your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and
to give his life as a ransom for many."
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Reflection:
Do you
love to be in the limelight when you do something for God and your fellowmen?
The
mother and the two sons obviously loved to be in the limelight, they do not
know the virtue of humility. Otherwise they would have not requested to sit
beside Jesus. If they know something about the virtue of humility they would
have not asked Jesus that self-serving request.
How is it
to be a true servant of the Lord? To be a true servant is to be humble at all
times to be self-effacing and not to seek recognition at all times. Therefore, Jesus will be recognized and not
you.
We have our different motivations in serving
in the different ministries in our church or in helping our fellowmen. Some use
it as a spring board to enter politics. Some use it for them to be known in
their community and as a badge of honor for them to be respected.
It’s none
of the above actually.
True
service in the church and with our fellowmen must always be accompanied by the
virtue of humility. Our motivation is to serve without thinking of the gains
and accolades that we will reap in return and this is how Jesus served us, His
church. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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