BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU

Is  53,10-11; Ps 32; Heb 4,14-16; Mk 10,35-45
21 OCTOBER

To have a place of command, during the reign of David, his son Absalom revolted against king David, causing an internal war to break out. So much was his thirst for power that the head of his army, fearing that the king could give his place to the head of Saul’s army, killed him treacherously. To occupy a place one is also willing to murder, to war and to slander. We know that scribes and Pharisees, fearing to lose authority before the people, decided to kill the Son of God.

Just then David’s servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone his way in peace. When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, “Abner, son of Ner, came to David; he has been sent on his way in peace.” So Joab went to the king and said: “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go peacefully on his way? Are you not aware that Abner came to deceive you and to learn the ins and outs of all that you are doing?” Joab then left David, and without David’s knowledge sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died in revenge for the killing of Joab’s brother Asahel. Later David heard of it and said: “Before the Lord; I and my kingdom are forever innocent. May the full responsibility for the death of Abner, son of Ner, be laid to Joab and to all his family. May the men of Joab’s family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or a leper, or one unmanly, one falling by the sword, or one in need of bread!” (2Sam 3,22-29).

After this Absalom provided himself with chariots, horses, and fifty henchmen. Moreover, Absalom used to rise early and stand alongside the road leading to the gate. If someone had a lawsuit to be decided by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he replied, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe of Israel,” Absalom would say to him, “Your suit is good and just, but there is no one to hear you in the king’s name.” And he would continue: “If only I could be appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a lawsuit to be decided might come to me and I would render him justice.” Whenever a man approached him to show homage, he would extend his hand, hold him, and kiss him. By behaving in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment, Absalom was stealing away the loyalties of the men of Israel (Cf. 2Sam 15,1-18,32).

Jesus does not want these or other worst things to happen in his kingdom. This is why he overturns the laws of the government. The most remarkable is not the one placed at the top, but instead the one that is placed at the bottom. The greatest will be the smallest. Instead of commanding, one has to serve in his kingdom. Instead of taking, one gives. Instead of rising, one must lower himself. Jesus gives himself as an example always to be followed. Who is Jesus? He who did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life in ransom.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him 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.”

Another great advantage gives the law of Christ. Whoever stands low, will never sell his conscience, his intelligence, his truth and his heart to have a place at the top. Jesus did not get rid of his truth, but of his clothes to be crucified.

Faithful Virgin, Angels and Saints make us reign of God according to the rules of Christ Jesus.