Homily for March
3rd, 2021: Matthew 20:17-28.
“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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