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.”
Reflection
The last verse in this scripture passage touched me the most: “…the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus came to this world to serve us. We all aspire to emulate Jesus. We are here on earth living as Jesus and his apostles in modern times. Serve others in simple ways. A simple “hello” to someone can go so far to brightening someone’s day. In today’s modern world, it’s our turn to step up and serve others no matter what.
Just think about it: Jesus served the poorest of the poor, the sickest of the sick and everything in between. He didn’t care if they were poor, lepers, dying, rich or anything else. Jesus shows us to love each and every person as if they were our own brother or sister.
During Lent we reflect on how Jesus was so humble and without a doubt, selfless. He didn’t brag about anything or try to one up any of his friends. He was always there when someone needed him.
I wish I had a real life friend version of Jesus. No, not a Facebook friend you only talk to once a year when you see that it’s their birthday. Jesus is the ultimate friend. He never leaves our side. No matter where we go in life or what we do, he’s always with us. Whether we acknowledge that or not is up to us. During Lent, we journey with Jesus just as he regularly journeyed with his own apostles. Today’s gospel invites us to serve others just as Jesus did.
Anthony Gugino, 20, St. Viator Catholic Community, Las Vegas
2010 and 2011, VYC Delegate. 2012–‐VYC Young Adult Leader
- Being Viatorian is important to me because it has allowed me to look at my faith from another perspective and build relationships and friendships with other Viatorian youth from other Viatorian–‐led communities throughout the United States.
- The friends I’ve gained through the Viatorians are the most fruitful and faith-filled friendships I have. One thing I am doing to grow closer to God in this Lenten Season is making time for my own, personal reflection.