"Masarangan bala ninyo ang mga pag-antos nga madali ko na lang antuson?"

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

Nagpalapit kay Jesus ang asawa ni Zebedeo upod ang iya duha ka anak nga lalaki. Nagluhod siya kay Jesus kay may ipangabay siya.

Gani nagsiling si Jesus sa iya, "Ano ang imo gusto?" Nagsabat ang asawa ni Zebedeo, "Kon mahimo, kon maghari ka na, papungkuon mo ang akon duha ka anak sa imo kilid; ang isa sa tuo kag ang isa sa wala."

Pero ginsabat sila ni Jesus nga nagasiling, "Wala kamo makahibalo kon ano ang inyo ginapangayo. Masarangan bala ninyo ang mga pag-antos nga madali ko na lang antuson?" Nagsiling sila, "Huo, masarangan namon."

Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Masarangan ninyo gani, pero indi ako ang nagapili kon sin-o ang mapungko sa akon tuo ukon sa akon wala. Kay may yara na nga gintigan-an sini ang akon Amay."

Pagkabati sang napulo ka sumulunod kon ano ang ila ginpangayo, naakig gid sila sa mag-utod.

Gani gintawag sila tanan ni Jesus kag ginsilingan, "Nahibaluan ninyo nga ang mga manugdumala sa sini nga kalibutan may gahom sa ila mga sinakpan kag pagusto lang sila kon ano ang ila himuon sa ila.

Pero indi amo ini ang sa inyo. Kay kon sin-o sa inyo ang gusto nga mangin gamhanan, dapat siya mangin suluguon ninyo.

Kag kon sin-o sa inyo ang gusto nga mangin pangulo, dapat mangin ulipon siya sang tanan.

Bisan pa gani ako nga Anak sang Tawo wala nagkadto diri sa kalibutan agod alagaran kundi mag-alagad kag maghatag sang akon kabuhi agod matubos ang 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, 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 brutish and self-serving. 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 Christ 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?