Today’s readings depict Jesus as both the Suffering Servant and the High Priest. Isaiah tells us that because the Suffering Servant bore the guilt of us all, our sins have been forgiven. St. Paul tells us that Jesus is the true High Priest who can relate to everything we experience as humans, and Whose sacrifice atones for our sins and allows Him to intercede for us with God the Father.

In the Gospel reading, we hear about James and John asking Jesus to grant them positions at His right and left sides. They are, of course, thinking in worldly terms, still expecting Jesus to play the traditional role of the Messiah in Jewish tradition. Jesus tells them that what they’re asking for is not His to give, but then he goes further. He makes it clear that to be “first”, they must be “last.” The greatest will be the ones who deny themselves in the service of others. In Jesus’ case, and sometimes in our own lives, serving others involves pain and suffering. Just as Jesus did, we, as his followers, must be willing to embrace this suffering. When we do for others by volunteering the gifts that God has given us, we should do so willingly and gladly. This isn’t always easy, but neither was Jesus’ passion and death.

Reflection by Parishioner John Ceglarek