Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?

27 FEBRUARY (Mt 20,17-28)

Conspiracies, stratagems, plots, intrigues have always existed in the palaces of kings. Everyone looks for the greatest power, and every means is good in order to stand above the others. In subtle, almost demonic and satanic ways, he also tries to supplant the king himself. The ancient history of Israel is very familiar with these things.

Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. “Do you come as a friend?” she asked. “Yes,” he answered, and added, “I have something to say to you.” She replied, “Say it.” So he said: “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel expected me to be king. But the kingdom escaped me and became my brother’s, for the Lord gave it to him. But now there is one favor I would ask of you. Do not refuse me.” And she said, “Speak on.” He said, “Please ask King Solomon, who will not refuse you, to give me Abishag the Shunamite for my wife.” “Very well,” replied Bathsheba, “I will speak to the king for you.” Then Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king stood up to meet her and paid her homage. Then he sat down upon his throne, and a throne was provided for the king’s mother, who sat at his right. “There is one small favor I would ask of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” “Ask it, my mother,” the king said to her, “for I will not refuse you.” So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunamite be given to your brother Adonijah for his wife.” “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunamite for Adonijah?” King Solomon answered his mother. “Ask the kingdom for him as well, for he is my elder brother and has with him Abiathar the priest and Joab, son of Zeruiah.” And King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God do thus and so to me, and more besides, if Adonijah has not proposed this at the cost of his life. And now, as the Lord lives, who has seated me firmly on the throne of my father David and made of me a dynasty as he promised, this day shall Adonijah be put to death.” Then King Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who struck him dead. (1Kings 2,13-25).

Even at the “court of Jesus” – he was believed to be the true future king of Israel – they live with intrigue and subterfuge, plots and strategic battles aimed at winning the first place. James and John, to keep apparently pure, holy, free from any desire for first place, make their mother speak. This appears to Jesus and makes him a request without any diplomacy or turn of phrase: “‘Grant that these my two sons may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answers the two brothers that he can only give the cup of martyrdom to all his disciples. Other things are not in his, but in his Father’s power who is in heaven.

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 him 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 cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My cup 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.”

Jesus does not want intrigues in the “palaces” of his Church. He does not like the games of evil diplomacy. He loves and wants subterfuges, climbing, nepotisms, favoritisms, recommendations and every deed of men that take his Father the power to grant him alone the places that each of the disciples must occupy; to be banned. Not even a love of friendship and brotherhood must interfere in this matter. Even likes and dislikes must also be set aside. Worships the Lord, who respects the Father in this exclusive power. All these things betray the falsity of belonging to Lord Jesus. He is of Jesus who lays down his life for the redemption.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us the last place, always.