I always cringe a bit when I read today’s Gospel passage. James and John’s mom has no qualms asking Jesus to give her boys honor and power.
I have to wonder, did they cringe? Were they embarrassed?
She just marched right up to Jesus and said, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.”
Jesus’ reply? “You don’t know what you are asking.”
She thinks she is setting her sons up for power, prestige; a life where they are served and attended to with high praise. She wants what she thinks is best for her sons—worldly success.
But, we mustn’t judge her too harshly because many of us parents want the same thing for our kids.
We want them to have everything their hearts desire. We want them to get the best of everything. We want them to be noticed. We don’t want to tell them “no” for fear they will get mad at us. We don’t want them to ever have to sacrifice or do hard things until they are around 21 and THEN maybe, though they don’t know how.
Too many parents want ease, comfort, recognition, and worldly success for their kids. They want those things because they think it will make their kids happy.
Goodness is what we should desire as parents. With goodness comes sacrifice, suffering, and challenges, but deep and abiding joy.
St. John would go on to bring the Gospel to Asia Minor and it was no easy task for him, but his goodness changed the world.
St. James, whose feast day is today, was martyred for Christ. His witness changed the world and his goodness has endured for millennia.
Desire goodness—holiness—for yourselves and your children, Catholic Pilgrims. That’s where eternal happiness is found.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
*Picture is of Pergamon, one of the seven churches written to in the Book of Revelation. Located in what was once Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.
