29B: SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 10:35-45, OCTOBER 20, 2024
1. STORY
John, a high
school student, constantly came home
late from school. After many warnings to
come home on time, his father warned him that the next time he came late
he would only have bread and water for his supper. Sure enough, the next time he came home late,
his plate contained a single slice of bread and a glass of water while his
parents’ plates were filled with food. Naturally,
John was unhappy but he knew he deserved this punishment. As they were to begin eating, the father took
John’s plate for himself and then took his own plate and put it in front of
John. The father was taking upon himself
the punishment that John had brought upon himself. The father taught his son a very important
lesson, and by doing so, served his family.
2. GOSPEL, MARK
10:35-45
A. THE DESIRE TO
BE FIRST
Two of the twelve
apostles, James and John, wanted to be first among them. They wanted to sit “one on your right and one
on your left,” at the end of time when Jesus came into his glory.
B. THE DESIRE TO
SERVE
In response to
this request, Jesus told them that “whoever wishes to be the first among you
will be the slaves of all”. He told them
that he “did not come to be served but to serve.”
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
A. THE DESIRE TO
BE FIRST
The desire to be
first means:
i) The desire for
FAME
One would like to
be well known, to be liked, and to be praised.
ii) The desire
for POWER
One would like to
be the boss by telling others what to do and wanting others to follow his plan.
iii) The desire
for WEALTH
One would have
the money to buy what one likes and to go where one wishes. Jesus tells us this is not the way to be
first.
B. THE DESIRE TO
SERVE
Jesus teaches us
that to be the greatest, to be first, is by serving others as he did. “I, the Son of Man, did not come to be served
but to serve”.
Here are 3
examples of how to be first by serving others.
i) At home, you
can help to keep the house clean by being neat yourself and being on time for
meals.
ii) At work, you
can carry out your duties in an efficient way by doing them on time.
iii) As a
Catholic, you can follow the example of Jesus who gave his time and energy to
help those in need. We treat people in a respectful way by using
these words: Thank you, I am sorry,
Please, Excuse me, and Well done. Jesus
gives us enough strength, time, and ability to follow his example of serving by
helping others. Thus, we become
the greatest, the first, in the eyes of Jesus.
4. CONCLUSION
The father served
his family by teaching his son a lesson in being on time. Jesus taught his disciples the correct meaning
of being the greatest by telling them to serve others. We thank Jesus for instructing us and ask him
for the strength to be first by serving others.
