It is interesting that in the Gospel of Matthew the episode in today's Gospel reading has the mother of James and John making the request instead of the men making the petition themselves. Was it embarrassing to the Matthean community that the naked ambition and jealousy among the Apostles should be exposed in this way? Saint Mark has no such qualms. He not only speaks of the power grab of the two brothers but also of the indignation of the other ten Apostles. In other words Saint Peter was one of those unhappy at this attempt to unseat him. Jesus challenges all of them and in doing so he instructs us too. Isn't it excellent that the Early Church had the honesty to record these less than edifying moments among the first disciples? Otherwise, we could be fooled into thinking that just because these men later became great saints and martyrs that somehow they did not experience the weaknesses and sinful promptings that afflict us too. May we all grow in faith as the Apostles did so that when people speak of us at the end of our lives they too will give thanks to God for a life of faith and good works.
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