Gospel: Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to
Jesus 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 left 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."
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Reflection:
A Politician filed his certificate of
candidacy to run for an elective post in his country. When he was asked by a
reporter why he would run, he awkwardly said: “I want to serve our
countrymen.” However, at the back of his
mind his real intention was playing in his thoughts. And it was all about his
desire for power, respect and admiration.
Why do many of us aspire for power, respect
and admiration? Do we want it because it enhances our self-worth? Do we want it
to feed our egos and high regard of ourselves? Do we want it for the reason
that we want others to look up to us and perceive us as someone who is
powerful? It is all of the above actually and more, whether we admit it or not
many of us are craving for self-centered honor to be bestowed upon us.
James and John were also after greatness,
respect and admiration that is why they asked Jesus if they could sit beside
Him in His glory. They wanted those who would see them to be in awe by the
influence that they have. Imagine sitting beside the Lord, it is a badge of
honor; it is something that will make anyone proud. But Jesus rebuked them by
saying, “You do not know what you are asking.”
In Jesus’ viewpoint self-centered greatness,
egotism, and every kind of action for us to be adored and exalted amounts to
nothing. Because Jesus himself shunned all of these fickle exaltations, Jesus
avoided it like a plague. What is important for Jesus is to humbly follow the
will of God. And that is none other than humble service and sacrifice to His
people.
Which eventually led Him to give His very own
life on the cross. For Jesus true greatness and power lies in servanthood,
humility and forgetting of oneself for the good of humanity.
Is this also our viewpoint?- Marino J. Dasmarinas
Is this also our viewpoint?- Marino J. Dasmarinas
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