Reflection for Sunday October 21, Twenty-ninht Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:35-45

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."

 + + + + + + +

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