Leadership as Service
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
MK 10:32-45
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 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.
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace of a servant’s heart, seeking only the glory of God.
Reflection
James and John seek positions of power, missing the point of Jesus’ upcoming passion. This passage strikes at the heart of our Baptismal Mission: to lead is to serve. In our Mission, we often fall into the trap of seeking recognition or ‘success’ by worldly standards. Jesus clarifies that the only ‘rank’ in the Kingdom is based on the depth of one’s service to others. To incorporate this, we first return to Prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to purify our intentions. Are we doing ‘ministry’ for our own ego, or for the ‘ransom of many’? In Community, we see the danger of competition; the other ten disciples became indignant. Rivalry destroys the unity we were baptized into. Instead, we should practice ‘the apostolate of the hidden,’ performing small acts of service that no one sees. Finally, our Mission must be characterized by this ‘not-so-among-you’ attitude. When we interact with co-workers or neighbors, we don’t ‘make our authority felt.’ Instead, we look for ways to lighten their burdens. By drinking the ‘chalice’ of self-sacrifice, we reflect the true face of Christ. Today, identify a situation where you feel the urge to be ‘first’ or right, and consciously choose the path of the servant.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post