Daily Readings - Thu Jul 25 2019
2 Corinthians
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Matthew
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.21"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?We can," they answered.23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of power, service, and the challenges of following Christ. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of the paradox of being fragile, earthen vessels that hold the sublime treasure of God’s power. He reminds us that our struggles and sufferings are opportunities for God’s life to shine through us. The Gospel from Matthew presents a similar theme but shifts the focus to the nature of true greatness. The mother of James and John asks for positions of power for her sons, but Jesus responds by teaching that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is found in service, not in seeking status or control.
Both readings emphasize that the Christian life is not about avoiding difficulties or seeking worldly power but about embracing a life of self-giving love. In 2 Corinthians, Paul lists the trials he and other early Christians endured—tribulation, constraint, persecution—but insists that these are not obstacles to faith but opportunities for God’s power to be revealed. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus contrasts the Gentiles’ way of ruling through domination with the Christian way of ruling through service. He calls his disciples to be servants, just as he came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
These readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith in daily life. Do we see our struggles as opportunities for growth and witness, or do we try to avoid them? Do we seek to serve others, or do we look for ways to elevate ourselves? The moral lesson is clear: true power comes from surrendering our own will and embracing a life of humility and service. As we go about our day, let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s power, even in our weakness, and to live as servants of one another, following the example of Christ.