And she answered, “Here, you have my two sons. Grant, that they may sit, one at your
right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said to the brothers, “You do not
know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They answered,
“We can.” Jesus replied, “You will indeed drink my cup; but to sit at my right or at my left is
not for me to grant. That will be for those, for whom my Father has prepared it.” The other
ten heard all this, and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them
to him and said, “You know, that the rulers of nations behave like tyrants, and the powerful
oppress them. It shall not be so among you: whoever wants to be great in your community,
let him minister to the community. And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the
servant of all. Be like the Son of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to
give his life to redeem many.”

Reflect

“What do you want?” St. James is identified as one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus.
He is also the known as the son of Zebedee and the brother of John. James and John
were fishermen from Galilee (cf. Mt. 4:21-22). We know that the apostles are “the ones who
were sent.” They were called and sent by Jesus in order to serve. All throughout, Jesus was
showing them examples so that they would grow in their sense of service. “Be like the Son
of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”
(Mt. 20:28) In today’s Gospel, the mother of James and John came to Jesus to ask him to
give her two sons positions of power. Even those whom Jesus called to become part of his
inner circle were also tempted to desire for selfsecuring positions fueled by self-serving
motivation. Jesus would keep teaching them by examples. We may reflect that among the
first beneficiaries of Jesus’ self-giving redemption were the apostles themselves. Being
redeemed from the desire of power, St. James eventually offered his own life too.

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