| Sun 21st Oct Mk 10: 35_45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. ‘Master’, they said to him, ‘we want you to do us a favour.’’. And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’. And they said to him, ‘Allow us to sit, one at your right hand and the other at your left, in your glory.’. But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised.’? They replied, ‘We can.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I must drink you shall drink; and with the baptism with which |
I must be baptised, you shall be baptised; but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant, they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’ When the other ten heard this, they began to feel indignant with James and John. So, Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No, anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve and to and to give his life a ransom for many.’ |
GUIDELINES: TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY. (prepared by volunteers from the Lectio Centre project) “we want you to do us a favour” Can you remember a time when someone asked you to do them a favour? Their request was for something that you were not prepared to do, or were not in a position to do. It may have been to write a glowing reference which wouldn’t have been truthful, or to honour them in some way which you did not feel you had the power to do. The person could not see anything wrong in what they were asking, but you stood by your principles and refused to grant their request. Give thanks to God for having the courage to stand your ground. “Jesus called them to him” Can you bring to mind experiences where a parent, teacher, boss, friend, has taken you aside and in a caring and tactful manner given you advise which you may have found difficult to accept but you know was right. Because this person cared for your wellbeing they felt strongly enough to speak openly and honestly to you. We give thanks for people in our lives who care for us and help us to be the best that we can be. “these are not mine to grant, they belong to those whom they have been allotted” We remember families whose relationships have broken down or are strained due to disagreements over wills, property etc. Bring to mind a situation where it seems a family member is acting unjustly but in reality, the person is unable to change the circumstances as “it is not theirs to grant”, they have no authority to do so. They have to adhere to a decision which may appear to be unfair. We offer a prayer for the healing of these relationships. |
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