October 20, 2024: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Wow! No wonder James and John are called Boanerges “the sons of thunder.” They are fearless in asking for the best seats in the house. Inadvertently they provide Jesus with a “teaching moment.” (He has a lot of those, doesn’t he?) He tells them, and all the other apostles, that the road to the ultimate reward is a difficult one. Bold as brass, they tell him they are up to the task. 

But the instruction goes on. Whoever follows him will suffer. And they will also be asked to take the last seats, not the first. He is leading them to an understanding of servant discipleship, servant leadership. It is our task to take this message on board also. We are called to active discipleship in the service of others. It can be hard to put ourselves last, as Jesus asks. But he sets the example and we must follow.

Action

Where might opportunities for service in Christ’s name present themselves in the coming week? Pray to be open to the possibilities.