Gospel, Mark 10:35-45

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him. 'Master,' they said to him,
'We want you to do us a favour.'
36 He said to them, 'What is it you want me to do for you?'
37 They said to him, 'Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in
your glory.'
38 But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the
cup that I shall drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I shall be baptised?'
39 They replied, 'We can.' Jesus said to them, 'The cup that I shall drink you shall drink,
and with the baptism with which I shall be baptised you shall be baptised,
40 but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong
to those to whom they have been allotted.'
41 When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John,
42 so Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that among the gentiles
those they call their rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority
felt.
43 Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among
you must be your servant,
44 and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all.
45 For the Son of man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.'

REFLECTION:
The gospel shows the arrogant request of James and John to have positions of power
and authority in Jesus' coming kingdom. Jesus did not directly rebuke them but Jesus
handled them by putting in the right track. Jesus explained that greatness in His
kingdom came through service not through position. Jesus do not like the idea of having
a full authority to rule everyone. So, he stated that his purpose is to serve everyone in
his life not the other way around. Jesus does not abuse his power but uses it for the
good.
In this Gospel, I realized that I should stop striving to be better than those around me, I
should stop trying to save myself through my own efforts, and I should stop looking for
my self-worth in things like status and power. I should simply love and serve the people
in my life in the same way that Jesus did. Instead of striving for first place, acclaim, or
power, I should use my energy into helping those in need. Because if Jesus, who had
every reason to think of himself and insist on his position, thought it better to serve than
to be served, then so should we.
I also learned from this Gospel that we don't need to be envious or to get angry with
others who want a position. Not everyone can become the leader. We should just
focus on the role assigned to us. We can legally compete for the top position if it is
available, but a true servant is willing to accept any role. Let us be grateful if we are
given a role. God is the only one who knows what is best for us. So don't be upset. Get
busy.