We all aspire to greatness in some form or other.  It is this desire that our Lord addresses in today’s gospel.

James and John approach Jesus with their own idea of greatness— to sit at His right hand and His left when He comes into His glory.  However, Jesus has other ideas about greatness.  For Jesus, greatness begins with a cup of suffering and a baptism of pain.  Greatness is achieved through service.

We have here another reversal of values for which Jesus is famous.  “The first shall be the last.” “He who loses his life shall save it,” and “He who humbles himself shall be exalted” are other examples of how Jesus often reverses our values.

If we are aspiring greatness in some area,  we have to be able to suffer sometimes, put up with pain, whether physical or emotional, and overcome obstacles.  Moreover, if we aspire to higher forms of greatness in terms of what makes us truly human and holy, then we have to be willing to serve others and even lay down our lives for them.

The sense in which Jesus uses the term service includes any act that is noble and unselfish, any gesture that affirms and encourages someone, and any deed that is done with kindness and generosity.

Understood in this way, people who are achieving greatness in God’s eyes are: parents who raise their children according to Christian values.  Teachers who inspire students to high ideals; doctors and nurses who heal and care for the sick;  volunteers who visit the shut-ins; neighbors whom we call in an emergency.

Pray that we may be men and women who aspire to genuine greatness— a greatness that has a willingness to be of service and even give our lives for others.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell