And he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered, “Grant us to sit one at
your right and one at your left when you come in your glory.” But Jesus said to them,
“You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized in
the way I am baptized?” They answered, “We can.” And Jesus told them, “The cup that I
drink you will drink, and you will be baptized in the way I am baptized. But to sit at my right
or at my left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.” On hearing this, the other
ten were angry with James and John; Jesus then called them to him and said, “As you know,
the so-called rulers of the nations act as tyrants and their great ones oppress them. But it
shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and
whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all. Think of the Son of Man
who has not come to be served but to serve and to give his
life to redeem many.”

READ: James and John came to Jesus. They asked Jesus for seats of power, one at Jesus’
right hand and one at the left. Jesus told them that they did not know what they were asking.
Jesus questioned them if they could drink from the cup where he would drink and be baptized
in the way Jesus was baptized. James and John answered that they could. Jesus told them
that it was not for him to decide who will sit at his right and at his left. The other ten became
angry with James and John. Jesus taught them that the great among his disciples must be
the servant and who would want to become the first must be the slave of all. Jesus further
told them that he came not to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many.

REFLECT: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus taught his disciples the true meaning of his
messiahship, which was the giving of himself for the life of others. However, his disciples
were too slow to learn by heart the meaning of his messiahship. Their capacity to learn the
way of Jesus was impeded by their distorted understanding of greatness. Their idea of
greatness was associated with political power wherein the powerful lord it over the rest.
But for Jesus, greatness could only mean service.

PRAY: Let us pray that God may help us grow in our sense of service.

ACT: Let us serve our family members today to the best of our ability.

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