Ready to Serve – Reflection on Matthew 20:20-28
“My cup you will indeed drink.” This cup, while overflowing with love, does come at a cost. Paraphrasing St. Paul, Jesus is in our body, manifested spiritually with our mortal flesh. No doubt we are God’s containers. Our hearts can fill abundantly with the Father’s grace to hold and give love, mercy, and compassion. As we become reshaped to drink from the cup, we join with Christ and others in the suffering and become ready to serve those in need at a moment’s notice. To serve as vessels for God means participating in the mystery of what the difficulties and blessings of the Cross include. Through this participation, transformative grace flows outward with unconditional love.
The Calling of Saint James and Saint John by James Tissot (full resolution)
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Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 20:20-28 – Scripture*
The Request of the Mother of James and John
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 20:20-28 Reflection – Ready to Serve.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the passage of Matthew 20.
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Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Ready to Serve
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.