FEAST OF SAINT JAMES, APOSTLE - Gospel (Matthew 20:20-28) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” (Mt 13,30)

FIRST READING - 4:7-15

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.

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.

For 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.

So death is at work in us, but life in you.

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.

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 20:20-28

From the Gospel according to Matthew

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."

FEAST OF SAINT JAMES. APOSTLE - Gospel (Matthew 20:20-28)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God in today’s Gospel recounts the story of the apostles arguing among themselves about authority and status in their discipleship. The apostles were those who followed Jesus Christ closely and witnessed many of the miracles He performed. At that time, Jesus Christ was more prominent than the Jewish teachers, prophets, or messengers, for He alone had the power to raise the dead to life. For this reason, the apostles followed Him, believing that their Master was like an earthly king. They followed Him with the hope of attaining status, position, and power in the world.

Through the story between the mother of James and the apostles, Jesus sought to teach His disciples a lesson about service: To follow God is to serve others, not to be served. The image of Jesus Christ is a shining example of a life of service, humility, and self-abasement, of serving humanity with self-sacrificing love worthy of all His children to follow.

Now, He also desires that His disciples, when following Jesus Christ, to become servants of all people. For whoever wishes to be great must become a servant—not a servant in the manner of earthly kings or officials. The authority of worldly rulers is limited, temporary, and will come to an end with the conclusion of this earthly life. But the Kingdom of Heaven is where God reigns, a place of eternal life that can never be lost. Therefore, the purpose of Jesus Christ’s coming to earth as a human being was to serve humanity and to save the souls of all the children whom God has created.

In this era, because He desires to save souls, God continues to send His apostles to go forth and serve—to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and rescue souls from the grasp of Satan and his followers. God calls all apostles, when sent to proclaim the Gospel, to become humble and lowly servants of all, following the example of Jesus Christ, who said: “I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:27).

Thanks be to God. Amen.

15h00 Ngày 25-07-2025 Kinh Nguyện Lòng Thương Xót Chúa - Đường Vào Thiên Đàng