Saint Bernardino Realino by Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

Knocking on the door of our hearts

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20, 28)

Gospel Pearls 16_03_2022 Español

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’ Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’ When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants 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 as a ransom for many.’ (Matthew 20,17-28)

The Son of God does not behave as the ruler of the world but places Himself at the service of all human beings, not by forcefully imposing Himself, but by humbly knocking at the heart of each person. Jesus offers the benefits of Salvation to all but, unfortunately, not everyone will open their hearts to the redemption of Jesus. Today, try to do at least one good deed by putting yourself at the service of those you meet.