Lenten Reflection - Day 13 - Do not lord over another

Sisters and brothers in Christ, when we "lord over someone" we "assert arrogant superiority over one because of or in relation to some achievement, advantage, good fortune, etc." Our Lord and Jesus Christ warns us against doing this in today's Gospel, saying: "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." Jesus continues, saying, "Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave."

There are many people who, even though they are already in a position of authority over others, like to "flex their muscles" and show others "who is the boss." There is no need for this at all. They are trying to hold on to some self-perceived power or control over others through fear and intimidation. There is no need for any of that as our Lord tells us. In other others, we should treat everyone with dignity and respect because, as we hear in the verses on the "judgment of nations" (Matthew 25), what we do for the "least" we do for Christ and that is how we make our way to heaven.

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Gospel of the Day

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,

he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,

and said to them on the way,

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,

and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests

and the scribes,

and they will condemn him to death,

and hand him over to the Gentiles

to be mocked and scourged and crucified,

and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus 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.”