I just read today's gospel. What is Jesus saying to me now?
The first part sounds like Jesus is letting the team know the game plan.
What I thought was interesting here, is the fact that Jesus talking about himself in the third person.
Was this a quick “separation” of the spiritual part of Jesus with the human form of Jesus? Was Jesus trying to help the 12 change their view of himself? Trying to get them to look past the physical? It's obvious that he was trying to prepare them for what was about to happen.
The next part makes complete sense.
Here is a mom who loves her boys dearly and is just trying to set them up in a good place.
Not really knowing what is truly about happen or where the kingdom, that Jesus has been talking about, is located.
Then the other 10 guys get upset at those two brothers, thinking these guys are trying to “cut in line”. Again, they too don’t fully grasp what Jesus has been talking about.
He ends this passage talking about service.
Think of what (most) parents do for their children. How they serve their children.
Think of the most successful business men. They usually build a business to serve others.
So what is Jesus saying to me?
I know Jesus is always speaking to me but, am I really hearing Him? If I do, do I really understand what He is saying?
What I do hear loud and clear, is the call to service.
What does today’s gospel say to you?
Todays gospel
Matthew 20:17-28
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022818.cfm
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day."
Then 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."