*** 1st Reading ***  

Isaiah 53:10-11

Yet it was the will of Yahweh to crush him with grief.

When he makes himself an offering for sin, he will have a long life and see his descendants. Through him the will of Yahweh is done.  For the anguish he suffered,

he will see the light and obtain perfect knowledge. My just servant will justify the multitude; he will bear and take away their guilt.

 

Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 (22)

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

 

   *** 2nd Reading ***

Hebrews 4:14-16

We have a great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered heaven. Let us, then, hold fast to the faith we profess.  Our high priest is not indif­ferent to our weaknesses, for he was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sinning.   

Let us, then, with confidence approach the throne of grace; we will obtain mercy and, through his favor, help in due time.

 

**** Gospel ****  

Mark 10:35-45

 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Master, we want you to grant us what we are going to ask of you.” And he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered, “Grant us to sit one at your right and one at your left when you come in your glory.”

 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized in the way I am baptized?” They answered, “We can.” And Jesus told them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized in the way I am baptized. But to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.”

 On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John; Jesus then called them to him and said, “As you know, the so-called rulers of the nations act as tyrants and their great ones oppress them.

But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your ser­vant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all. Think of the Son of Man who has not come to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.”

 

Gospel Reflection

Read:

The disciples are onw jockeying for position in what they expect would be a political kingdom of their Master. James and John wanted to be in the highest position next to Jesus only.

This made the other ten disciples angry who are also hoping that they will be in the top position when the kingdom of Jesus materialized. Thus Jesus has to school them on the true meaning of greatness, that is, serving others is the path to becoming great.

Reflect:

There are people who would even use the Church to further their self-promotion and interest. Nothing is sacred for them. Everything is in function to their dreams and ambition.

And so, the disciples are in disarray when the other ten found out that James and John already made a move to be ahead of them in the kingdom of Jesus. Rivalry envy and jealousy reared its ugly head.

Jesus has to step in before the situation escalates. He has to reorient the earthly ambitions of His disciples to that of service. The disciples must not be concerned with titles and positions of power for they are lost in the end.

No one clings to power forever. They must learn to enjoy every moment and live it meaningfully by serving others. He tells them that the law of success here on earth is the opposite to that of heaven.

While one climbs the ladder of earthly success, in heaven success is a downward movement of self-emptying and of serving others in humility.

Respond:

What is our measurement of success? Do we delight in acquiring or in giving? We might want to see how we evaluate our success so that we will know what drives us to achieve them.