To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Gospel Reflection for Tuesday, February 25, 2025
«In today’s gospel reading, we find a stark contrast, almost brutal, which can help us think about how surprising, groundbreaking, and revolutionary—in the deepest sense of the word—the Gospel really is.
On one side, there’s Jesus. He’s got a lot of common sense and realizes his future looks pretty grim. In the previous chapters of Mark’s gospel, we’ve seen a series of increasingly intense clashes between Jesus and the Pharisees and teachers of the law. You didn’t have to be a genius to see that these confrontations were likely to end badly. That’s why Jesus says to his disciples, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over…’ It couldn’t be any other way when you challenge those in power, shake up their world, and talk to people in a whole new way. Jesus’s future wasn’t hard to predict. But for Jesus, it wasn’t a matter of fate. He knew it was his destiny, a consequence of proclaiming the kingdom.
Meanwhile, the apostles are on a completely different wavelength. They seem totally clueless about what’s happening around them. All they can think about is who’s the most important among them, who’s the boss, who’s in charge. I imagine they always pictured themselves right after Jesus. But it seems they were already thinking about the inheritance, and whoever got the inheritance would be the one calling the shots.
They just didn’t get it. Not one bit. In the kingdom, there are no firsts. Or rather, there are firsts, but, paradoxically, the first will be those who make themselves last and servants of all. It’s a massive shift in perspective! It’s a ‘revolutionary’ change because our world isn’t like that. It doesn’t work that way. And neither do our minds. Those who want to be first in our world want to be served, period. Jesus is at the opposite end of the spectrum. He came to serve and give his life for others (cf. Mark 10:45).
It’s clear: we Christians are here to serve, even to give our lives. Because the truth is, a Christian who doesn’t serve is good for nothing.