Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

Isaiah 53:10-11

Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Hebrew 4:14-16

Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

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 cup 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 cup 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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I graciously accept the cup of your holy will today. Help me understand that the path to glory passes through sacrifice, self-giving, and suffering. May I always exercise leadership in my family and community as a servant to all.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Drinking the Cup and Being Baptized with Christ: In the Gospel, Jesus places a condition on the request of the two sons of Zebedee. Jesus does not rebuke James and John for their desire to reign with him in glory. But he wants to make sure that they understand both the path to true glory and how they are to exercise authority in the Church. Jesus teaches them that the path to glory passes through the Cross. He invites his followers to share in his passion. He calls them to drink the cup and to be baptized. A cup is a metaphor for what God has in store for someone, whether this is the cup of his blessing or the cup of judgment on sin. By asking if they are willing to drink the cup and be baptized, Jesus “is asking whether the disciples are willing to be united with him in his redemptive suffering” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 212-213). Both metaphors point to the Sacraments: to Baptism, which immerses us in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and to the Eucharist, which is the memorial of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection.

2. Isaiah’s Priestly Servant Song: The passage in the First Reading is from Isaiah’s fourth Servant Song. It emphasizes the priestly actions of the Lord’s Servant, who will offer sacrifice and intercede for others. The suffering of the priestly servant is part of God’s eternal plan and will.  Instead of offering an animal as a “sin offering,” the priestly servant will offer himself as a sin offering to atone for sin. In response to this self-offering, God will raise the priestly servant to new life. And this righteous Servant, through his suffering, will make many others righteous. All of this is fulfilled in Jesus, our Great High Priest, who, as the priestly Servant of the Lord, gave his life as a ransom for the many and was resurrected from the dead.

3. We Have a Great High Priest: The Second Reading is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews. The Letter loves to make contrasts to advance its argument. The first chapters contain several contrasts: a contrast between how God spoke in the past through prophets and how God speaks in the present through his Son; between angels as ministering sons of God and Jesus as the reigning Son of God; between Moses, as a servant who was faithful in God’s house and Jesus as the Son who was faithful over God’s house; and between Joshua and David, who gave partial rest to God’s people, and Jesus, who offers the fullness of divine rest to God’s people. The contrast in today’s reading alludes to the difference between the ministry of the high priests who descended from Aaron and the ministry of Jesus, our faithful and merciful high priest. The earthly high priests entered into an earthly sanctuary; Jesus, by contrast, ascended into the heavenly sanctuary. The earthly high priests were tempted and sinned; Jesus was tempted but never sinned. And because we have such a great high priest who knows our weaknesses and sympathizes with us, we are encouraged to persevere in our faith and confidently approach God’s throne of mercy and grace.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, our faithful and merciful high priest, intercede for me at the Father’s right hand. Gaze upon me with kindness and mercy. You know all things, including my faults, imperfections, sins, tendencies, temptations, repentance, and victories. Guide me as I make choices today and seek always to do the will of your Father.

Living the Word of God: How am I living the priestly dimension of my Baptism? Do I know that all my work, prayer, apostolic undertakings, family life, patient bearing of hardship, and even times of relaxation – if accomplished in the Spirit – can become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ? (CCC, 901-903)