Daily Gospel Reflection

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July 25, 2023

Feast of Saint James the Apostle
Mt 20:20-28
Listen to the Audio Version

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.”

Reflection

Hayden Gilkinson ’25
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Most of my best friends from high school are still some of my best friends today. Some I still talk to at least once a week even though over the last couple of years, particular dynamics have shifted as I have changed since entering college.

During my first year of college, I went through RCIA and was confirmed, and I have worked towards growing in my faith. In short, I no longer believe things I used to think, say things I used to say, or do things I used to do.

As a recent convert, it can be tempting to compare myself to my old self and my old friends in unhealthy ways. It has been easy for me to be far too focused on piety and virtue for its own sake because there were many things in my life that I needed to change. But ultimately, this is self-focused and not how it should be.

I believe today’s gospel offers an essential insight into how we should think about our relationships and our practice of the faith. Jesus Christ, born without sin, does not use this fact to flaunt his superiority over the apostles or anyone in gospels for that matter.

Instead, he lays down his own life and offers us grace. Although we will never be capable of making the same sacrifice he made, we should follow his image in serving others out of our love for him. If we cannot serve others with the virtue and humility we have been given in our own lives, we mock the very grace and mercy Christ has shared with each one of us.

Prayer

Rev. Gabriel J. Griggs, C.S.C.

Father, by the example of your son, you taught us that true greatness lies not in power, but rather in service. Grant that we may be free of our desire to be powerful, to control others, and to be raised up in status; grant, instead, that we may be filled with a desire to grow in humility and to serve those in need and those who have been entrusted to our care. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.