Wednesday May 26, 2021 - Eighth week of Ordinary Time - The Son of Man came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for the multitude - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 10, 32-45

We have just listened to Jesus in the Gospel announcing his sufferings and his death. He often told the disciples about it so that they would not be surprised at what was to come. Jesus was on his way with the Twelve Apostles to go up to Jerusalem when he told them of what was going to happen to him. The disciples were astonished and they were in dismay.

Just before this passage, Peter declared to Jesus his willingness to leave everything to follow him. And to all who have left everything today, out of love for him, Jesus has promised that they will receive a hundredfold in this world and eternal life in the world to come. Jesus did not hide from the apostles what is going to happen to him: they will "condemn him to death, spit on him, scourge him and kill him, and after three days he will be resurrected." All this will happen to him, and it will also happen to all who follow him. Jesus has already prepared them so that they will not be shocked by the trials that may arise in the future.

The second point that the Gospel has also spoken of is the request of the apostles James and John, sons of Zebedee, to grant them seats, one to the right and the other to the left of Jesus. These two apostles were among those who followed Jesus closely and we can even say that they had some privileges, for example, their presence with Jesus on the mountain during the transfiguration.

It expresses man's penchant for power and glory. But Jesus turned their gaze to the contemplation of the Cross, the one to be taken. In other words, to face the reality of today, a path that must be taken to join the future. The place that God has prepared for us is that of standing to the right and to the left of Jesus crucified on the Cross. A special place and a special power does not exist in Jesus. For the preaching of the gospel, no reward or salary is expected from God, yet he gives a free gift of eternal happiness to those who trust in him.

An attitude for living our Christianity and disciple of Christ is that of following his example: to serve and not to be served, nor to seek only one's own interest, but above all to think of others. Saint Philippe Néri is an example for us, a saint remembered by the Church today. He was a man very open to the needs of others with his kindness, his piety, his charity and his zeal in everything he undertook. Amen.