October 18 - Twenty Ninth Sunday in the Ordinary Time: Power

First Reading  Isaiah 53:10-11
Through his suffering, the servant of Yahweh will justify many.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22
A prayer of praise for God's mercy

Second Reading  Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus is the high priest who sympathizes with our weakness.

Gospel Reading
Mark 10:35-45 (shorter form Mark 10:42-45)

According to the Gospel James and John saw authority when they asked Jesus for seats at his right and left. Like typical careerists and opportunists they were looking for a comfortable position for themselves. Most people see authority as a chance to promote their own honour and glory. But Christ saw it differently. He saw it as an opportunity to serve others – to promote the good of others rather than to promote one’s own honour and glory. He said “look at the pagan rulers. See how they lord over their subjects. It must not be like that among you must be the one in authority must be the one who serves”. Surely this is the most revolutionary thing ever said about authority. It makes for true greatness. All of us exercise authority in some way or the other. We have to examine ourselves. Do we exercise authority according to the spirit of Christ? Let us not presume that we are necessarily superior to or better than, those we command. A uniform, a promotion, a position of authority, these of themselves do not make us better persons.