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:
Who is an exemplary leader?
An exemplary leader leads by example, he does not aspire to that position
of leadership to be popular. To be seen and to give orders while he/she is
enjoying the trappings of his position. He ascends to that position of
leadership because he wants to be a person for others and to serve even at the
cost of his life.
In the gospel today we see a mother asking a favor from Jesus (If her two
sons could seat beside Jesus) but the mother has no full comprehension of the
destiny that awaits Jesus. If only she knew she would not have asked Jesus that
favor.
Why is it that many are attracted to serve in the church? They want
to serve because it’s an opportunity for them to be seen, to be in the
spotlight. However, after they are given their work they have this realization
that this is not what they wanted to do because it involves sacrifice and
humility. And for obvious reasons they don’t last in their ministry.
To serve in the church alongside Jesus always involves sacrifice and
humility. We don’t serve because we want to be influential, to be popular and
powerful. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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