The request of James and John
AS Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves... Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him 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 CAN YOU DRINK THE CHALICE THAT I AM GOING TO DRINK? This is Jesus’ response to the mother of the sons of Zebedee who asks him to have her two sons sit, one at his right and the other at his left, in his kingdom. The context shows that she has not understood Jesus’ words about his forthcoming passion and death. While Jesus is speaking about his suffering, she is more concerned about a place of honor for her sons.
“Chalice” in the gospels is a synonym for suffering. In Ugaritic language, chalice refers to a person’s allotted portion or destiny. Here, chalice refers to Jesus’ passion and death. Jesus explains further that his disciples must serve just as he has come to serve and not to be served; he gives his life as a ransom for us.
The desire for honor and power can blind us to the meaning of true service, according to Jesus’ standard.