Homily for
July 25th, 2015: Matthew
20:20-28.
“Whoever
wishes to be great among you must be your servant,” Jesus says in today’s
gospel. It is his response to the request made by the mother of the brothers
James and John that he give them places of special honor in his kingdom. The
petition may have come from the mother. It is clear, however, that she had the
full backing of her two sons. For when Jesus asks if they can share the chalice
of pain and suffering from which he will drink, the two brothers respond
eagerly, “We can.” They have no idea, of course, what lies ahead for the Master
they love and revere.
It quickly
becomes clear that the other disciples are equally clueless. They become
indignant at James and John for staking out a claim before the other disciples
can assert theirs. Patiently Jesus explains that this whole contest for honor
is totally unacceptable among his followers. “Whoever wishes to be great among
you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your
slave.” And immediately Jesus ratifies this teaching with his own example: “The
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a
ransom for many.”
We all need a measure of recognition
and affirmation. But if finding that is central in your life, I’ll promise you
one thing. You’ll never get enough -- and you'll always be frustrated. Look,
rather, for opportunities to serve
others and you will find happiness: here and now in this world -- and in the
next the joy of eternal life with the Lord who tells us, later in this gospel
according to Matthew: “Whatever you do for one of these least brothers or
sisters of mine, you do for me.”
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