Prayer of the Day

Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year

October 18th, 2015

James and John the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. ’’Master,’’ they said to him ‘’we want you to do us a favour,’’ He said to them, ‘’ What is it you want me to do for you?’’ They said to him, ‘’ Allow us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.’’ ‘’You do not know what you are asking.’’ Jesus said to them, ‘’Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised?’’ They replied, ‘’we can.’’ Jesus said to them, ‘’ The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptised you shall be baptised. But as for seats on my right hand or my left these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.’’

Discipleship holds consequences—

The passage highlights the disciples’ obtuseness, the request of James and John. Jesus’ response primary is prediction of the Passion.

A place in the kingdom demands suffering, Jesus does not determine status in the coming kingdom. Leadership in Jesus’ community means service.

The request,’’ allow us to sit one on your right hand and the other on your left in your kingdom of glory.’’ ‘’ Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I must be baptised with?’’ They replied, ‘’ we can.’’ Jesus message is, the promise of martyrdom. This is closely connected to his own death and passion. ‘’For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.’’