The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

Almighty ever-living God, grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Is 53:10-11

If he gives his life as an offerings for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life.

A reading from the Book from the Prophet Isaiah

The LORD was pleased
   to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
   he shall see his descendants in a long life,
   and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
   he shall see the light in fullness of days;
Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
   and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 27

R. :

R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
   and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
   of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
   upon those who hope for his kindness,
to deliver them from death
   and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
   who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
   who have put our hope in you.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Heb 4:14-16

Let us confidently approach the throne of grace.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
   Jesus, the Son of God,
   let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
   who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
   but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
   yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
   to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

The world of the Lord

Acclamation before the Gospel
Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him,
   “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?”
They answered him, “Grant that in your glory
   we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
   or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
They said to him, “We can.”
Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink,
   and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
   but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
   but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
   “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
   lord it over them,
   and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
   whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
   but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Or: [Shorter Form]

Jesus summoned them and said to them,
   “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
   lord it over them,
   and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
   whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
   but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Lectio Divina

James and John behaved like children! You can imagine them stamping their feet as well as being coercive—as we sometimes do because we believe that we have a right to some thing or other and, if we don’t get our way, then we try to find a way to avenge ourselves; because we imagine that we should receive what we ask for. But what we ask for—although we might feel that it’s right and just—might not always be for our benefit, and therefore Jesus makes the sons of Zebedee understand by telling them that they do not know what they are asking (Mk 10:38).

What James and John wanted was what pleases the eye and not what satisfies the heart. They wanted might, power, and authority over others. This is the pursuit and longing of many, because in us there is a desire to be in control of everything and everyone; craving more; the longing to rule and to supress instead of caring and nurturing. This inclination and ambition within us, if left unrestrained, can lead us to use, exploit, and manipulate instead of serving those whom we are supposed to put before us. Examining our conscious, we should ask ourselves whether we are serving or controlling and harbouring goals and intentions that are unjust. When we place ourselves first and seek only what will benefit us without thinking of our neighbour, there we will find a lack of harmony and great disorder—a disorder that unfortunately we are experiencing in today’s world because of a widespread attitude where all that matters is that I’m OK.

It is good that one takes care of him or herself, but not at the expense of others. If everybody cared for each other we would all be living in an ideal world, and while this sounds like a distant dream, this is what Jesus calls us to, even in today’s world! Jesus invites us to put on the apron and serve those around us with love, without expecting anything back because “whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all” (MK 10:43-44). 

Jesus’ words sound forceful and a bit rough as well. Jesus does not drag his feet: without hesitation he expects us also to be as radical as he is. And, therefore, his words impact and shock us because undoubtedly they are out of step with today’s mentality. Let us therefore allow his words to echo in our ears that we are not deterred to be out of tune with this world where it is not popular to give and to give one’s self, where it is not fashionable to serve!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, strengthen us so as not to feel uncomfortable being out of step by doing that which is good; by serving others; and loving and giving ourselves without reserve. Amen.

 

Ara l-Qari tal-Ħdud li għaddew