Sunday Reflections | 29th Sunday in Ordinary Times
By SIDTP SoCom
Published on October 20, 2024
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can!” 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; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned the Twelve and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In today’s Gospel, James and John come to Jesus with a bold request: they want to sit at His right and left in glory. This desire for power and status highlights a common human ambition. Jesus, however, responds by asking if they can drink from the cup He will drink from, referring to His upcoming suffering.
He then explains that true greatness in His kingdom is not about being served but about serving others. Jesus flips our understanding of leadership by teaching that the greatest among them must be a servant. This challenges us to reflect on how we pursue success in our own lives.
Jesus reminds His disciples that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. His ultimate act of love sets the standard for how we should treat others.
As we reflect on this Gospel, let’s consider how we can adopt a mindset of servanthood. Are there moments when we seek recognition instead of serving? How can we embody Christ’s example of selfless love in our daily actions?
May we strive to live out our faith by serving those around us, reflecting the love of Jesus in everything we do.
