Gospel: Matthew 20: 17-28
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- indignant: feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting or base.
- What causes feelings of indignance in me? Seeing someone else's successes or advancements when I felt I was the one deserving? Do I feel indignant at seeing true injustice, or mere indifference? Is my concept of justice worldly, or in line with the full teaching of the Church?
- authority: the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; the right to control, demand or determine; a power or right delegated or given; an accepted source of information; power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.
- When I am/have been in positions of authority, do I "lord it over my subjects"? How about my authority as a parent - do I exercise it for authority's sake? Or do I misunderstand the authority-servant dynamic and serve my children in ways that don't respect the authority God wants me to have, so as to form my children's consciences and wills to know and choose the good?
- ransom: the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person or captured goods, for a price; the sum or price paid or demanded; a means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin.
- Does this definition help me to understand the value God has placed on me - that He sent His Only Son to die a horrific death, so that I could live with them in Heaven? Does this help me to understand the "cost" of sin? How sin "kidnaps" my soul? Does this increase my gratitude for grace, and the sacrament of confession?
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