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

25 JULY (Mt 20,20-28)

The Old Kingdom of David and Solomon was founded not on one man, the king, but on his numerous ministers, every one of which exercised a particular mission. They were mighty, valorous men, experts in the art of war and capable in all.

These are the names of David’s warriors. Ishbaal, son of Hachamoni, was the first of the Three. It was he who brandished his battle-ax over eight hundred slain in a single encounter. Next to him, among the Three warriors, was Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was with David at Ephes-dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. The Israelites had retreated, but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew tired and became cramped, holding fast to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory on that day; the soldiers turned back after Eleazar, but only to strip the slain. Next to him was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. When the soldiers fled from the Philistines, he took his stand in the middle of the plot and defended it. He slew the Philistines, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

Such were the deeds of the Three warriors. During the harvest three of the Thirty went down to David in the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine clan was encamped in the Vale of Rephaim. At that time David was in the refuge, and there was a garrison of Philistines in Bethlehem. Now David had a strong craving and said, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem!” So the Three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem. But when they brought it to David he refused to drink it, and instead poured it out to the Lord, saying: “The Lord forbid that I do this! Can I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he refused to drink it.

Abishai, brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was at the head of the Thirty. It was he who brandished his spear over three hundred slain. He was listed among the Thirty and commanded greater respect than the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a stalwart from Kabzeel, was a man of great achievements. It was he who slew the two lions in Moab. He also went down and killed the lion in the cistern at the time of the snow. It was he, too, who slew an Egyptian of large stature. Although the Egyptian was armed with a spear, he went against him with a club and wrested the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, then killed him with his own spear. Such were the deeds performed by Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He was listed among the Thirty warriors and commanded greater respect than the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard (Cf. 2Sam 23,8-38).

With Jesus the kingdom changes: from an earthly kingdom to a kingdom of above, not of this world. The form of government must also necessarily change. You cannot enter the kingdom of Jesus Christ and think in the manner of the kingdom of David. A new mentality, new hearts, new minds, new skins, new forms and new ways are urgently needed. Today, Jesus poses himself as the one and only to be followed. Always taking the last place.

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.”

In the realm of Jesus one does not enter to be served and not even to take someone’s life away. He enters in order to serve from the last place and to give the personal life as a ransom for many. In this new kingdom great is he who does not command, does not have power, but who serves, who knows how to die for others, humbling himself even to letting himself be crucified for love. If you do not enter this logic, never might you be a true disciples of Jesus. The king changes, the kingdom changes, the subjects of this king in this realm must also change.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us new in the new kingdom.