The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Florencio Lagura SVD – New Jersey, USA
Wednesday 8th Week in Ordinary Time
“Ambition should be made of sterner stuff,” were the impassioned words of Marc Antony at the funeral of his friend, Julius Caesar, whom Brutus and his other conspirators, fearing Caesar’s unbridled ambition, stabbed to death.
The Lord’s band of disciples also entertained ambitions. Being all too human they aspired to earthly greatness once their Master would establish the kingdom. The ambition, notably of the sons of Zebedee, incurred the anger of the rest. Moreover, the two came out with their dreams for grandeur soon after Jesus had foretold of his suffering and death. Bad timing!
To the surprise of the aggrieved disciples, Jesus did not reprimand James and John, or whoever of the band had ambitious thoughts. Instead of suppressing the all-too-human ambition, Jesus channeled it to true greatness which could be achieved by following in his steps of 1) humility in service 2) firmness of intention 3) willingness to take up one’s cross and 4) following the Lord even unto death.
James and John, together with the rest of Jesus’ close disciples, save Judas Iscariot, fulfilled their life’s ambitions. For their service with humility, fidelity and courage in facing death, they truly became great.
These men, with their all-too human ambition to be great, achieved true greatness, for they were, indeed, made of sterner stuff.
