The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing: ‘The Lord Jesus emptied himself for us, therefore God has exalted him above all things.’

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Today, there will be no repeat of the scripture.

Matthew 20:17-28

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.’

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

Sometimes in Scripture, it helps to step inside the scene.

They have always walked. The road to Jerusalem is well worn; relentless heat, dust rising beneath the feet of animals, pilgrims, and merchants; the jangle of heavy carts; the bleating of sheep and goats—all drawn toward the great city. Yet Jesus walks with a particular purpose, a steady rhythm in his stride.

How do you experience this journey?

“We are going up to Jerusalem…” Of course we are. But what follows - betrayal, condemnation, mockery, scourging, death - the response of his friends is left unspoken. How do you receive this shadowed prophecy?

Do you notice the quiet, resolute promise: “…and on the third day he will be raised.”

Almost at once, another voice breaks in: ambition. A mother asking for honour for her sons. Feel the strain in the air. Jesus speaks of suffering; they speak of glory.

Are there moments when you follow Jesus - yet still bargain over the path?

Jesus asks: “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?”

His words are not meant to wound. They simply name the truth of the cost. What is the “cup” set before you now? How do you meet this question?

Jesus gathers them all close.

“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant… just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus will offer his whole life so that every person might know freedom and fullness of life. We are invited into the same unfolding journey.

Imagine Jesus asking you, this Lent, to choose your place.

What kind of freedom might be waiting there?

You have given all to me

To you, Lord, I return it

Everything is Yours

Do with it what You will

Give me only Your love and Your grace

That is enough for me

Amen