THE SECRET KEY TO GREATNESS. (Homily for May 25, 2016. Wednesday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time.)


Bible Study:  1 Peter 1, 18 to 25 and Mark 10, 32 to 45.


The desire for greatness is something that is in-built in every single human being. Having being created in the image and likeness of a great God, we have in our DNA a longing for self-actualization. We all want to realize our full potentials and achieve our maximum abilities. We all look forward to attaining the peak or the best position in any endeavour we find ourselves.

Even the least paid gateman in a company dreams of becoming the CEO someday and there is no normal person who would turn down an opportunity for greatness. Even in Christianity, the aspiration of every Christian is to get to the highest possible level of the faith which is heaven of course and it is a longing and aspiration that pushes us on every day. We not only desire to be in heaven, we long to be occupy positions of authority when we get there.

In today’s Gospel passage, we see two brothers who were not ashamed to tell Jesus of their aspiration for greatness. “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.”

Note that Jesus did not rebuke them, he only asked if they were willing to pay the price for greatness. Dear friends, as much as we are all bundles of potentials, we would never achieve our true worth unless we are ready to pay the price. It is indeed true that nothing good comes easy. A student who desires straight A’s for instance will not get one if he or she refuses to pay the price of burning the midnight candles.

Even getting to heaven involves having to drink the cup of pain and sacrifice. On the night of his arrest at the garden of Gethesemane, when Jesus was face to face with this same chalice he begged God: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26, 39.

After Jesus had inquired of James and John if they were willing to pay the price, the next thing he says is rather troubling. “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

This means that paying the price for greatness itself does not guarantee us anything. Of course, we must do our part, the student for instance must burn the midnight candle, we must be disciplined enough to work hard but success is something that only God can give! In other words, in the end, it is not our efforts that will get us to greatness, instead it is God himself who makes us great by rewarding our sacrifices. Just as it is possible to read very well as a student and still fail an exam, it is possible to suffer so much and still not make it in life.

We are always at the mercy of God but that does not mean we shouldn’t make the effort. There are a lot of people who believe solely in themselves or in their own abilities, they do not see any reason why they should pray to God or go to church. They believe that if they do what is right, they must get there. But as Jesus says, we may drink the cup and receive the baptism but as to seats, they belong to those to whom they have been assigned. Who knows if those seats were actually assigned for James and John? But Jesus would not tell them because he wanted them to actually drink the cup that was coming to them.

The other disciples became jealous of James and John because they were bold enough to ask for greatness. They too desired to be great but like most of us, kept it to themselves. They did not want Jesus to look at them like ambitious persons so they were quiet. After all, the other day, they were arguing among them, who was the greatest.

Note again that Jesus did not find any fault in their aspiration instead he told them the secret of achieving greatness. WHOEVER WOULD BE GREAT AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT, AND WHOEVER WOULD BE FIRST AMONG YOU MUST BE SLAVE OF ALL. In the real sense, our gatemen, our house helps, our gardeners, those we consider as good-for-nothing have already achieved greatness. Do you notice that despite the fact that they don’t have much, they are always happy and content? Do you notice how we can’t do anything without them? How they seem to laugh at us for having more worries than they do?

The key to greatness is to serve others.


Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, give the grace I need to humble myself so as to achieve my deepest aspiration for greatness. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. 

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