＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

However, we carry this treasure in vessels of clay,

So that this all-surpassing power may not be seen as ours but as God’s. Trials of every sort come to us, but we are not discouraged. We are left with­out answer, but do not despair; persecuted but not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed. 

At any moment we carry in our person the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in us. For we, the living, are given up continually to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may appear in our mortal existence. And as death is at work in us, life comes to you.

 We have received the same spirit of faith referred to in Scripture that says: I believed and so I spoke. We also believe and so we speak. We know that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and bring us, with you, into his presence.

Finally, everything is for your good, so that grace will come more abundantly upon you and great will be the thanksgiving for the glory of God.

 

Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5,6

Those who sow in tears, shall reap with shouts of joy.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 20:20-28

 Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, “What do you want?” And she answered, “Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at your right and one at your left, when you are in your kingdom.”

 Jesus said to the brothers, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They answered, “We can.” Jesus replied, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom the Father has prepared it.”

The other ten heard all this and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. 

It shall not be so among you; whoever wants to be more important in your group shall make himself your servant. And if you want to be first, make yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

We are in an age, which recognizes effort. Positions are achieved by working hard and getting tasks done. For Jesus, however, effort is important but not to gain places of honor. In fact, there is no position or upward rank to achieve.

To exert effort serving our brothers and sisters is the be-all and end-all of following Jesus. We follow Jesus horizontally not vertically-towards others not up high.

When I serve for promotion, I am not really serving-I am pushing myself up. James said he and his brother can drink the cup Jesus is about to drink. It could be easy to suffer with Jesus, but to suffer with a leper, a criminal, an outcast is another challenge.

Similarly, it is possible-even prestigious-to feed, defend, give my life to serve our parish priest. The challenge is whether I can do the same to a nameless parishioner.