A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 20:20-28:
20 The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
21 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.”
22 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.”
23 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.”
24 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers.
25 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.
26 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
27 whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
28 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: Matthew 20:20-28
In this gospel reading, we find a profound lesson on the nature of true greatness in the Kingdom of God. The passage begins with the mother of James and John requesting that her sons be granted places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. This request reveals a common human desire for status and recognition. Yet, Jesus’ response redirects our understanding of greatness and calls us to a life of humility and service.
Jesus asks if they can drink the cup He is going to drink. This “cup” symbolizes the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus Himself would endure. The brothers affirm their willingness, but Jesus gently clarifies that the honor they seek is not His to grant and that those positions are prepared by the Father.
The other disciples react with indignation towards James and John, revealing their own struggles with similar ambitions. Jesus seizes this teachable moment to impart a revolutionary concept: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus overturns conventional notions of power and greatness. In His Kingdom, greatness is not measured by authority or accolades but by one’s willingness to serve others selflessly. The highest honor is reserved for those who humbly put others’ needs above their own.
Reflecting on this passage, we are reminded that true discipleship involves a radical reorientation of our values. We are called to follow Jesus’ example of servanthood. This call to serve is not about mere acts of kindness; it is about adopting a posture of humility and recognizing the inherent worth of every individual we encounter.
In our daily lives, we can embody this servant-heartedness in various ways. It could be through offering a listening ear to someone in distress, volunteering our time and resources to help those in need, or simply performing our duties with integrity and love. Each act of service, no matter how small, reflects the heart of Christ and advances His Kingdom on earth.
As we meditate on this passage, let us pray for the grace to resist the lure of worldly prestige and embrace the path of humble service. May we strive to serve others with the same love and dedication that Jesus demonstrated, knowing that in God’s eyes, the greatest among us are those who serve with a pure and selfless heart.
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While the main focus of the gospel passage above is servant leadership as the path to greatness, let us look at the reaction of the ten other apostles to the request of the mother.. Verse 24 says they were indignant. Maybe they were not happy at being left out in case Jesus grants the request for brothers James and John to sit at the right hand of Jesus in His Kingdom.
Human nature is being displayed here and Jesus took the opportunity to teach. The ten other apostles were indignant for the main reason that they too aspire for the highest position available. In their heart, they wanted to be the first, to be the most powerful, and to be looked up to. They have become jealous of James and John if and when Jesus granted their mother’s plea. So here is the message of Jesus: Be humble and serve. Then you will become great in the eyes of God.