Daily Gospel for Wednesday February 28, 2018

Gospel, Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the road he took the Twelve aside by themselves and said to them,

'Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death

and will hand him over to the gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised up again.'

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low;

and he said to her, 'What is it you want?' She said to him, 'Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.'

Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?' They replied, 'We can.'

He said to them, 'Very well; you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.'

When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers.

But Jesus called them to him and said, 'You know that among the gentiles the rulers lord it over them, and great men make their authority felt.

Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant,

and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave,

just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

Reflection on the Gospel of the Lord

The love of the mother to her children is like nothing else in the world. A mother will do anything for her children. In the Gospel today, the mother of the two apostles James and John make a request to Jesus Christ if his two sons will sit at the left hand and right hand in his kingdom. Jesus Christ knows that the loving mother of James and John has good intentions im her bold move to make such a request to Jesus Christ.

It is very obvious that the loving mother didn't know what she's asking because if she knew then she woundn't ask for it. But Jesus Christ confirmed that James and John could join him in his Kingdom in heaven when Jesus himself ask the brothers if they could drink to his cup and they respond that they can and Jesus told them "My cup you will indeed drink". This is the confirmation that they can join him to his kingdom.

Jesus Christ told the his follower the painful truth what really is the truth behind going to Jerusalem. He said to them that he will give his life. Jesus Christ will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death.

Jesus Christ gave up his life as a great sacrifice to save humanity from sin. We are all invited to become his followers and follow his footsteps. Just like the apostles that we invited by Jesus to follow him and follow his footsteps courageously. The apostles were told to abandon all fear and must be ready and willing to follow and serve Jesus and his mission.

If we want to become a true follower of Jesus Christ, we need to open our hearts to him and drink the cup of His Precious Blood seep into our soul. This is the very gift that He give to us to nourish us and need to be ready and willing to follow and serve Him and his mission.

We must reflect what we learn in this Gospel today and ask yourselves this question, “Can you drink of the chalice that I am going to drink?” Are you willing to give up everything? Are you ready and willing to give your life in a sacrificial way for the love of others? Are you ready and willing to follow Jesus and his mission? If yes then drink on the Cup of Jesus Precious Blood.