Lenten Reflections - Week 2, Mar 4 Wed

by Kenny Soosai

Readings: Jer 18:18-20, Mt 20:17-2

Gospel: 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.”

Reflection: In the Gospel today, we see James and John jostle for a position of power with the ministry of Jesus. The actions of the 2 brothers causes unrest and dissention among the Apostles. Jesus had to hold a meeting to refocus their attention on serving the community. He had earlier predicted His own death and crucifixion but instead of supporting their leader, the brothers were too busy thinking of their own position.

We can see this sometimes in the workplace and even in our modern church communities. There are those who would readily serve themselves first and the team/community later. Some people ‘lord their power’ over people. But as Christians, our true purpose is to serve. The irony is, the true leaders are the ones who loved and were respected by their community. These are the one who lead like Jesus. They don’t ‘need’ a position to lead but when they speak, people will follow.

A Step to Consider: If you are a leader in your community or workplace today, ask yourself what value you are bringing to the lives of your community/team. If you are a follower, how can you help ease the load of your leader. Can you lead with love?