Reading 1
2 Cor 4:7-15
Brothers and sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death
for the sake of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,
we too believe and therefore speak,
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you,
so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
Responsorial Psalm R. (5)
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Gospel
Mt 20:20-28
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.”
Meditation: Matthew 20:20-28
St. James
Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? (Matthew 20:22)
We can’t help shaking our heads as we read this story. Prime places in the kingdom indeed! Though James and John brashly assert they can drink the cup Jesus is about to drink, it’s obvious that they have no clue what shame, suffering, and death they would have to embrace before they could even get a glimpse of the glorious reign that awaited them at Jesus’ right and left hand.
The other disciples are no better. They are indignant only because these two beat them to the punch.
But rather than rebuke James and John, Jesus makes this a teaching moment. He describes authority in God’s kingdom: self-sacrificing leadership that always puts others first.
In the days to come, James will have many other moments of misunderstanding and failure. He falls asleep in the garden of Gethsemane in Jesus’ hour of need. He flees when the soldiers seize Jesus. He has a hard time believing the women’s report of an empty tomb. But gradually his faith grows clear and strong, and then he is filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Eventually, he takes his place at the heart of a vibrant Christian community in Jerusalem.
What hopes are on James’ mind now? Surely not to have a seat of glory! Whatever they are, his earthly plans are short-lived. Luke tells us that he is the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:2). It’s tempting to think that, given more time, he could have accomplished so much more. But in reality, he simply continued his ministry from the glory of heaven.
In a wonderful prayer, poet Michel Quoist complains that there aren’t enough minutes in his hours, hours in his days, or days in his life, to accomplish all he must do. However, he concludes with a profound but simple insight: “Tonight, Lord, I’m not asking you for time to do this and then that. I’m asking you for grace conscientiously to do what you want me to do in the time you give me.” It’s a lesson James learned, and a lesson we all need to learn.
“Father, you give me exactly the right amount of time and the right amount of grace to do what pleases you today. Help me joyfully to discover what that is.”
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