This is the way that Jesus lived.

Jesus continues to teach His disciples and us the way to inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. That we cannot lord anything over anyone but be a servant to all. This is the way that Jesus lived and is asking us to live. Following Jesus is not always easy and indeed if we are truly imitators of Christ then we too will experience suffering. But just as Jesus took on those sufferings in His own life, we can connect ours to His and then He helps carry us through them. James and John knew not what they were really asking of Jesus in today’s Gospel, yet Jesus invites them to endure whatever may come their way and then they would be granted a place in eternal life with Christ, not necessarily the places that they were asking for; but life nonetheless with Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a good lesson for us as well. What we ask for from God may not always be the best thing for us, but He promises to answer our prayers or requests with what is best for us. Let our prayer be that of the Psalmist today: “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you!”

My prayers for each of you,
Fr. Fred