"Sarang bala kamo makainom sa kupa nga akon pagaimnan sa indi na lang madugay?”

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 20:20-28)

Dayon nagpalapit kay Jesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo upod sa iya mga anak nga lalaki, nagluhod sa iya atubangan, kag may ginpangabay.

Si Jesus nagpamangkot sa iya, “Ano bala ang luyag mo?” Ang babayi nagsabat, “Ginapangabay ko nga kon maghari ka na, papungkoa ining duha ko ka anak, ang isa sa imo tuo kag ang isa sa imo wala.”

Si Jesus nagsabat sa ila, “Wala kamo makahibalo sang inyo ginapangayo. Sarang bala kamo makainom sa kupa nga akon pagaimnan sa indi na lang madugay?” Nagsabat sila, “Huo, sarang kami.”

Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, “Sarang kamo matuod makainom sa kupa nga akon pagaimnan. Pero ang pagpapungko sa akon tuo ukon sa akon wala, indi ako ang magahatag sina. Ini nga mga pulongkoan para lamang sa ila nga gin-amanan sang akon Amay.”

Sang pagkabati sini sang napulo ka mga gintuton-an naakig sila sa duha ka mag-utod.

Gani gintawag sila tanan ni Jesus kag ginsingganan, “Inyo nahibaluan nga ang mga pangulo may gahom sa ila mga tinawo kag nagapagusto lang sila sang ila himuon sa ila mga tinawo.

Pero lain iya ang para sa inyo. Kay kon may isa sa inyo nga luyag magpangulo, dapat sia magmanginsuloguon ninyo.

Kag kon may isa sa inyo nga luyag mangin-una, dapat sia mangin-ulipon ninyo.

Subong nga ang Anak sang Tawo wala magkari agod alagaron, kundi sa pag-alagad kag sa paghatag sang iya kabuhi sa pagtubos sang madamo nga mga tawo.”

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom, that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with love that I may give generously and serve joyfully for your sake."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Who doesn't want to be first, and to be esteemed and honored by others? We seem to have an unquenchable thirst for recognition and fame, power and authority to rule our own lives as we please as well as the lives of others. Should we be surprised to see the disciples of Jesus thirsting for power, position, and authority? James and John, the sons of Zebedee, urged their mother to strike a deal with Jesus, their Master and Messiah. They wanted the distinction of being first and most important in position, next to Jesus, of course!

When Jesus called the twelve apostles to be his inner circle of disciples who would teach and exercise spiritual authority on his behalf, he did the unthinkable! Jesus taught contrary to the world's understanding of power, authority, and position, by reversing the order of master and servant, lord and subject, first and last! Jesus wedded authority with love, position with sacrifice, and service with humility. Authority without love is over-bearing and slavish. Position without respect and concern for the subordinate is demeaning and rude. And service without generosity and sacrifice is cheap and unkind.

Those who wish to serve with the Lord Jesus and to exercise authority in God's kingdom must be prepared to sacrifice – not just some of their time, money, and resources – but their whole lives and all that they possess! Jesus used stark language to explain what kind of sacrifice he had in mind. His disciples must drink his cup if they expect to reign with him in his kingdom. The cup he had in mind was a bitter one involving crucifixion. What kind of cup does the Lord have in mind for us? For some disciples such a cup entails physical suffering and the painful struggle of martyrdom. But for many, it entails the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily sacrifices, disappointments, set-backs, struggles, and temptations.

A disciple of Jesus must be ready to lay down his or her life – each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required – and even to the point of shedding one's blood if necessary for the sake of Christ and his gospel. What makes such sacrifice a joy rather than a burden? It is love – the kind of "love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). An early church father summed up Jesus' teaching with the expression: "to serve is to reign with Christ." We share in God's reign by laying down our lives in humble service and love for one another, just as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus has taught and modeled for us?