Mark 10:35-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then 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; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
"Not to be served, but to serve"
We know what kind of Messiah the disciples, as the rest of the people of Israel, are expecting. How privileged should be those chosen to assist him in His task as a political liberator who is going to restore an earthly kingdom.
They keep thinking about power, authority and greatness - as humans usually do.
According to Church tradition, the two brothers James and John are related to Jesus because their mother Mary was the cousin of Jesus' mother. They think they have priority for special ranks of authority in this kingdom and ask to be appointed as firsthand assistants.
Jesus, again and again, tries His best to lift up their concept about His Kingdom. It is different from worldly kingdoms. Heavenly authority is a fruit of service, giving and, even more, it is a self-giving out of mercy {I changed love to mercy here to not repeat the word love so close together, ok?} and pure love.
This Sunday, we are invited to reflect upon our concept of power, authority and social ranks. Does our concept meet Jesus' teaching where He insists on service with love and self-giving?
Love and service are twins in Jesus' ministry. All His teaching, miracles, signs and model of life spring from the fountain of His love and mercy. They rise to the sky of love and mercy, and pour into the ocean of love and mercy.
Didn't He say to the lawyer who asked, "Who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29) to go and do as the Samaritan who had mercy on the one who was left on the road between alive and dead (Luke 10:37)?
After the Resurrection, wasn't His last call to Peter when He asked him how much he loved Him, and Jesus repeated three times what we read between the lines "You love me, serve my lambs, sheep and rams" (John 21:15-17)?
How much do we love Jesus and how true are we as we respond to His love?
Do we love Him through our neighbor or just a theoretical claim of love?
This what Jesus wanted James and John to understand about power, authority and social ranks, and this what He wants us to understand and practice today. Let us give a few moments of deep reflection and hear His voice saying, "I came to serve and not to be served."