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Gospel Reading for July 25, 2025 – Matthew 20: 20-28
TO HAVE ALL THE MEANS
Feast of Saint James, Apostle
The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. 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.” 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.” 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.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. 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. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. 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.”
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Perhaps, the mother of James and John was very ambitious for her sons. She recognized Jesus’ power and perhaps often heard him speaking about the Kingdom of God which she thought was the same with kingdoms on earth where the rulers were powerful. The ten others became indignant at the brothers and not at the mother. Did they think that it was the idea of the brothers? And if it was, why were they indignant? Did they also have ambitions for power? Jesus saw through them so he gave them a lesson on the meaning of power: We are given power/authority not to lord it over others, but TO HAVE ALL THE MEANS to be able to serve others, especially those in need.
Parents or surrogate ones, more often than not, are the ones who shape the attitudes of their children. Even at an early age, parents sometimes push their children to be achievers in school: that they should be this, that they should be that. Sometimes, instead of yielding positive results in the attitude of their children, the children tend to become competitive with others and want to be more superior than other children.
If we can instill in our children the value of becoming their very best at home and in school so they may be of best service to God and humankind, then they will have a better understanding and know the true meaning of power.
Lord Jesus, teach us to be like you who used the power of being God’s only Son to serve humankind in every way possible!
