Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to the question of the mother of the sons of Zebedee with prophetic words meant to instruct us in how to live here on earth so that we can spend eternity with the Father in heaven.
In simplest terms, Jesus is challenging the apostles, and us, to choose what will be our top priority in life. Will our life be marked by ambitions and achievements that serve our best interests? Or will our life be focused on serving the Lord by serving others?
While we rightfully desire to join Jesus in the eternal glory we know as “heaven,” it requires us to live here on earth as Jesus lived. If we wish to live like Jesus, we must be a life-long servant, putting the needs of everyone else as our top priority, ahead of our desires.
I grew up as a very competitive person. I wanted to be the best at everything. I wanted the best grades in school. I wanted to win in sports, whether as an individual or as part of a team. I wanted to be successful in life as the world defined success. This led me to seek wealth, power and honor in all my activities. When I realized that I wasn’t the absolute best at anything, whether it was as a husband, as a father, in my career, or in my hobbies and other interests, I had to make a choice. Was I willing to live with the despair of “not being good enough,” or was I willing to stop comparing myself to others and seek to be my best self, the person God created me to be?
By the grace of God, I turned to Him for help and asked for His guidance. That was the moment that I, like the sons of Zebedee, was willing to drink from the “chalice” of life that the Lord had prepared for me. Slowly but surely, the Lord guided me into a life of serving others. I approached my role as a husband and father differently. I saw my role in my career differently. Eventually, the Lord led me to serve Him as an ordained permanent deacon. I took a vow to spend the rest of my life in service to others in imitation of Christ the Servant.
My path is just one of many paths available to live as a servant of the Lord. I’ve come to recognize the path of discipleship that many others have taken either in their chosen profession or in their dedicated service as volunteers in parish and community settings. Lastly, shining brightest of all are those who are mothers and, like Mary, give their life to bearing and raising children, teaching them by example to be servants of the Lord.
The path to eternal glory with Jesus is the path of serving others.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
How is the Lord calling you to serve him by serving others in this life?