Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 20, 17-28
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 Jesus 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 chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice 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.”
Ask and it will be given to you
1. Seek. Never stop looking for what you love or doing what’s good for you. At times, you might neglect the things that truly matter to you—the things that bring you joy and fulfillment. If you want to find peace, you must actively look for it and know where to search. For this reason, keep close the people and things that uplift you. This isn’t about becoming dependent on them, but about recognizing their supportive presence in your life.
2. Give good things. Always continue to do good. As long as you’re able, offer your help, because everything in life eventually comes back to you—often in greater measure. The good you do for others is like planting a seed for your own future. Don’t let a lack of recognition or praise stop you from acting with kindness; God and life will ensure you are rewarded eventually.
3. The Law and the Prophets. Remember, the Bible shows us that hardship is part of life and that some people may try to bring us down. Yet, for those who walk with God, nothing can truly disturb their spirit. Keep in mind that people don’t have the last word; in time, the truth emerges, and we come to recognize people and situations for what they truly are.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
