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Gospel Reading for May 27, 2026 – Mark 10: 32-45
LOVE AT ITS FINEST
The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus 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 chalice 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 chalice 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.”
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Abuse of authority is one of the main reasons why there are so many problems in the world today. The problem often lies in interpreting authority merely as power to rule over others, rather than as a responsibility to serve.
For example, people in the Church are expected to help the faithful deepen their relationship with God. People in government are entrusted with the responsibility of improving the lives of their constituents. People in schools are called to educate and guide their students. Parents at home are expected to raise their children with love, guidance, discipline, and good example, helping them grow not only in knowledge and character, but also in faith and respect for others.
As Jesus points out, “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the slave of all.”
Philippians 2:5–8 describes Jesus in this way: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
When Adam and Eve chose to listen to and obey the devil instead of God, God could have simply abandoned humanity forever. Being the Creator, he could have stopped creating human beings or left them to perish because of their sin. Why continue caring for people who had chosen to turn against him?
Yet our God, who is all-powerful and supreme above all, humbled himself out of love by giving humanity a second chance to attain everlasting happiness and peace through his own Son, Jesus Christ. Ironically, Jesus had to suffer at the hands of humanity in order to save humanity itself! Indeed, this is LOVE AT ITS FINEST!
If all those in authority served with genuine love, humility would naturally follow, and what a wonderful world this would be!
Lord Jesus, help us to serve others as you served, with humility, love, and faithfulness!
