I once had a conversation with some college business students. They were excited about their future prospects, with one saying, “I want to chart my own course. The tech industry is full of opportunities.”
Another student shared, “I’m working on public relations programs for cutting-edge software companies. The knowledge I’m gaining is paving the way for a fantastic career.” Yet another mentioned, “I just want to relax by the beach. I grew up on the West Coast, and the ocean has always been my place to reflect and recharge.”
These students are eager to pursue education, growth, travel, and self-discovery. These are all admirable goals. But what stood out to me was how often the word “I” was used. It reflects a mindset that prioritizes the self, often without considering the importance of serving others.
And this reminds me of the story of James and John in today’s Gospel. They sought positions of power and privilege without understanding that true greatness comes through service. Jesus had to remind them that the path to true fulfillment involves letting go of self-interest. When they later witnessed Jesus on the Cross, the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, did they still desire to be at His side in positions of glory?
In the Gospel, we see the disciples competing for importance in the Kingdom. This happened even after Jesus told them three times that He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die.
Despite His clear words, they were too focused on their own ambitions to understand. James and John sought glory, which led to resentment among the other disciples. Jesus had to teach them that to be first, they must serve others. He urged them to recognize that they were brothers, not rivals.
Like the disciples, we often find ourselves trapped —trapped by our need for recognition, by competition, by the pressures of a world that tells us to look out for ourselves above all else.
We’re fenced in by our ambitions and desires, sometimes so much that we forget those around us, just as the disciples were too consumed by their own desires to hear Jesus speak of His impending death.
The night before He died, Jesus gave the disciples a powerful example. He took on the role of a servant, washing their feet — a task usually reserved for a slave. Afterward, He told them, “Now you do the same. Serve one another.” This message clearly resonated because, in the early Church, people would say, “See how these Christians love one another?”
I’m reminded of a story from World War I. An officer visited a soldier in the hospital who had disobeyed orders by returning to the battlefield to find his wounded friend. The soldier was severely injured, but found his friend, who died in his arms. The soldier told the officer, “I found him. His last words were, ‘I knew you would come.'”
Isn’t this a profound example of what is best in humanity? It’s the essence of what we are called to do: help one another.
This is what followers of Jesus should be known for. Just as Christ’s wounds have healed us, our wounds can heal others. In our relationships—whether as spouses, siblings, friends, or members of a faith community—we should hear Christ’s call: “You are not fenced in. Open your eyes. Don’t struggle for power. Don’t use each other. Let your leadership be found in serving others.”
If we do this, people will once again say, “See how these Christians love one another?”
