In the beginning and end of today's Gospel (Mt. 20: 17-28), we see the words "Son of Man". In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus, the Son of Man, predicts (for the third time) His Passion, Death, and Resurrection--He will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, mocked, scourged, crucified, and on the third day be raised. At the end of the Gospel, we see the words: "Be like the Son of Man who has come not to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many." (Mt. 20:28, CCB).
There is greatness in servanthood. If one wants to be great, serve. If one wants to be first, be a slave. Give yourself for the souls of many. Our only way to the Son of Man is the way He have shown: the Way of the Cross. Yes, like the prophet Jeremiah in today's first Reading (Jer. 18:18-20), others may reject and persecute and even plan to destroy and take our lives from us because of what we believe in and of what we do for God's Kingdom. We might even be put to places and situations where we may be pressed down and may ask, "Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? ... " (Jer. 18:20a)
But remember, the Way of the Cross doesn't end with death. Yes, it may be full of sufferings and sacrifices. But definitely, it will not end in death. It will end in glory, not our own, but God's glory and our salvation. The Way of the Cross teaches us that for us to have an Easter Sunday, we must first have and endure our Good Friday.
When Jesus asked James and John regarding their request (which was coursed through their mother), " ... Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" The apostles James and John said, "We can." I think that they were able to respond with "We can", simply because their eyes were fixed on the prize. Like the apostles, may we also fix our eyes on Jesus; not on what we can gain from the world, but on Jesus. Our reward is this: " But it is written: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, " (1 Cor. 2:9). It is more than what our eyes can handle, more than what our ears can understand, more than what our human hearts and minds can imagine.
There is greatness in servanthood. We can be great if we allow ourselves to be generous. Generous of giving our time, our talents, and our treasures (resources) for the furtherance of God's mission. Generosity of our life, no matter how difficult. Generosity of saying, "For you, O Lord, we can!"
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Prayer for Generosity
O Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not to ask for reward;
Save that of knowing
that I am doing your holy will.
Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Most Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
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