But to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many

25 JULY (Mt 20,20-28)

The Psalm teaches us that no man is able to redeem his life. The whole man, in full, from birth to death, in every thought, action, relationship, work, feeling, will, must always be from his God. He alone can redeem him from evil. He alone can lead him to the good. He alone can save him now and in eternity. The only true life pours only from him. This is the truth about man.

Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, Both low and high, Rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp. Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever—That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay. For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others. Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names. But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish. This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. [i]Selah. As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation. But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself—And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49 (48), 1-21).

Jesus comes. He is a real man. What does he say about himself as a real man? That he gives his life in ransom of many. This is the sublime novelty that the Gospel brings us. Jesus is a real Redeemer, a real Saviour, because he is able to free not one man but all men from sin and the power of darkness. He is the only one who can do this. Never might anyone else do it, because every other person needs him to be redeemed and for him the words of the psalm are valid: no one might ever redeem his life.

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.”

James and John certainly did not yet understand anything of the mystery of Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus did not call them so that they govern men, but to make them “redeemers” and “saviours” in Him, with Him, for Him. There is only one way to be “redeemers”, “saviours “, offering the own life as a ransom for others. There is huge difference between offering the personal life and dominating and oppressing others. Life is offered by taking the last place, becoming the servant of all, taking on the personal shoulders the sin of the world and expiating it with charity until the end.

For who wants to give his life as a ransom, the place is always one: that of the servant, any ministry or office that is assigned him by God. That is what Jesus did. That is what every one of his disciples must do. In his kingdom, there is no place for those who do not want to serve and do not want to be “redeemers, saviours” like him, follow his example.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels, and Saints make us be servants of all.