James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading | Isaiah 53:10-11
A suffering Messiah is not what the Jews expected, so they have difficulty recognizing Jesus as the one who promised to deliver them from sin and their enemies. They remember the glorious days of David and want them to return. Let us place our hope in the gift of salvation and the glory of the Lord, and never give in to the seductions of worldly power and glory.
10 The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. 11 Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
R: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
4 Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. (R) 18 See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield. 22 May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (R)
Second Reading | Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus is always ready to forgive and allow us to start anew. He is generous with His mercy. No matter what our experience maybe with our relationship with others, let us avoid letting this affect our relationship with God. We need to keep our understanding of God as One who is free from human restrictions.
14 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
The challenge of being a leader like Jesus is in imitating His self-sacrifice. Serving the Gospel is about dying to ourselves and allowing God to live and work through us. In the words of Saint Paul, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” May this truth grow in us all the days of our lives.
The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:35-45 (or Mark 10:42-45)
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” 37 They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42 Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
