They have heard the Lord announce a Kingdom and offer eternal life but they still fail to understand the new dimension the Lord puts forward to them. Indeed, John and James have been very generous leaving behind their households and their nets to follow Jesus the Christ.

TodayвЂ™s fragment of the Gospel narrates an episode that places us in front of a situation which is not unusual in the various Christian communities. Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization вЂњCan you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?вЂќ 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.вЂќ Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. But Jesus summoned them and said, вЂњYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?вЂќ They said to him, вЂњWe can.вЂќ He replied, вЂњMy 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.вЂќ He said to her, вЂњWhat do you wish?вЂќ She answered him, вЂњCommand that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.вЂќ Jesus said in reply, вЂњYou do not know what you are asking. Gospel text ( Mt 20:20-28): The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. So death is at work in us, but life in you. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained perplexed, but not driven to despair persecuted, but not abandoned struck down, but not destroyed always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.ДЇor we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword.Дў nd Reading ( 2Cor 4:7-15): Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them.

When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey himВ». God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon usВ».Д«ut Peter and the apostles said in reply, В«We must obey God rather than men. When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, В«We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. 1 st Reading ( Acts 4:33 5:12.27-33 12:2): With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all and Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles.

Daily bible readings catholic