Dcn Brigid Waszczak

The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and… asked a favor of him… “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”… Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

With good reason, colleges and hiring managers do not permit parents to submit letters of recommendation for their children. As parents, we are quite naturally inclined to overvalue our child’s abilities.

A newly minted teacher, I applied to many nearby school districts. During an interview, I watched the Superintendent lift a hand-written letter from the folder containing my application, college transcript, and cover letter. I held my breath when I recognized the distinctive handwriting of my aunt, a well-known, well-respected nun in the area.

The Superintendent put the letter on his desk and said, “You come highly recommended.” He offered me a job and I quickly accepted, relieved he had not read her effort on my behalf as bias.

The mother of James and John (Zebedee’s’ sons and two of Jesus’ closest disciples) approached Jesus—her sons in tow—to ask that Jesus give her boys places of honor in his kingdom. Not jobs in the kingdom, but high-ranking positions. She is often faulted in commentaries for her chutzpah.

But, as one of the cohort of women who traveled with and supported Jesus’ ministry, she likely heard him say, “When the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones.” (Matt 19:28) She took his words literally and maneuvered to secure the best seats for her sons. In college admission terms, James and John desired “early decision” status.

Jesus did not rebuke their mother or put them down. He asked these bold disciples if they could drink of the cup from which he would drink. Cup-bearers of kings drank first to test for poison—risky but honored positions. Perhaps James and John imagined this role in the kingdom when they eagerly replied, “Yes!” Jesus affirmed that they would drink from his cup, but his Father oversaw “seating arrangements.”

Rather than really hearing Jesus detail the betrayal, arrest, and execution he faced, (Matt16:21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19) and being heartbroken at the news, their ambition got in the way. James, John, and their mother chose this moment for their audacious request. They did not yet understand that Jesus’ kingdom required humble servant hearts.

Ambition itself is not bad. Without it, I would not have applied to so many school districts.

Humility prevented me from asking for my aunt’s support, which she gave without my knowledge. Tempering ambition with humility prevents us from over-valuing ourselves.

James, John, and their mother would have been well served to remember this—as would we.

May it be so,

—Dcn Brigid