Wishing to Be First
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Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family\
Mark 10:32-45- The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” Then 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.” He replied, ‘What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, ‘We can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 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.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 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. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
It is good to remember that the apostles were sinners. They had weaknesses, and they struggled with pride and other sins. In this story James and John ask for special treatment in the Kingdom of God, and the other apostles “became indignant.” Not a pretty scene. Why is this good to remember? Because Jesus doesn’t cast them away for their imperfections and their offenses against each other and against God; instead, Jesus builds the Church on them. God is the ultimate strength of the Church, not its human leaders.
But there is something even more important to consider. These imperfect men eventually become saints! They grow consistently in faith, love, virtue, and especially grace (God’s help and presence), and over time they become saints. Saints. Actually saints! We also are weak, prideful, sinful people. So what? If we open ourselves to grace and consistently grow in faith, love, and virtue, we will be saints as well. The Catholic Church is built on this hopeful reality. In prayer, ask God to help us to persevere!
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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