Reflection for Thursday July 25 Feast of Saint James, Apostle: Matthew 20:20-28

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.”  

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Reflection:

Who is an exemplary leader? 

An exemplary leader leads by example. He does not aspire to a position of leadership to be popular, to be seen, or to give orders while enjoying the trappings of the position. He ascends to a 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 had 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 assigned task they have a sudden 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