“… whoever wants to be great must become the servant of all”. (Mt. 20:17-28)

In this passage from today’s Gospel, Jesus’ two relatives, James and John, through their mother, ask Jesus to be the heads of the subsequent mission, up there, perhaps making use of their kinship with Him.

But Jesus, seeing this desire for honour or authority, which is human and understands it, takes the opportunity to give them a warning that is also for us: “Whoever wants to be great… let him become a servant.” “I did not come to be served, but to serve.”

Do we want to be great? Do we want to be recognized? There is Jesus’ formula…different, of course, from what the world gives us.

Living according to Jesus’ criteria is hard, but it is what leads us  to have life in abundance.  We also go up with Him to Jerusalem, knowing that after death comes the resurrection, that after suffering, there is the light of hope, and glory follows.