(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
“Put us in your will, so that when you die, we will inherit all your money and power.” Thus begins the deathbed watch over the powerful. Where is the grief if all we are interested in is the last will and testament? We certainly can fault the mother of Zebedee’s son. We likewise can fault the other disciples. But this means that we have to fault ourselves also.
We want the wealth of the dying person without the work. We want the glory without the grief of endless practice. We want recognition for our greatness without having recognized our littleness.
Famous athletes have worked hard to develop their talent. Famous authors worked have hard on their writing. Famous entertainers have worked hard to hone their skills. Christ passed through death to his glory. Should not we do the same as we follow Jesus?
What is the power of being President or Pope? Is it in commanding obedience or in the ability to spend large sums of money? Or is it in serving the nation or the Church?
How do we use our power? Is it to serve or to receive attention for the power?
I have power, power to act in the name of the Church to make Christ present to his people, the more readily to bring his salvation to others. I have the power in the name of the Church to call down the Spirit of God to change bread and wine for the feeding and nourishing of the Body of Christ that is the Church. In other words, whatever power I have is for the service of the Church and world, not for my own self.
Whatever power you have in the family, in the community, in the military, and in the world, is not for you but for the benefit of others.
This is the message Jesus wanted to teach us disciples. The mother of the sons of Zebedee did not understand this. The rest of the first disciples did not understand it. We, the disciples, of today, have to learn the same lesson, namely, that all power given to us is not for us but for the other.