From a young age, I loved winning at sports. I confess that winning was a bit of an addiction. It was probably coming from a deep desire for attention and affirmation from others. Nevertheless, it was a driving motivation for me. Baseball, soccer, track, table tennis, and whatever else I could find was a chance to win. Competition was my obsession. Another John, and his brother James, demonstrate a kind of wildly competitive obsession when they dare to say to Jesus: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37). Their audacity arouses an indigent reaction from the other apostles, who are clearly raw that these two are out to win the highest spots. How does Jesus respond to us in our desires for greatness? The same way he does to James and John. He does not criticize them for their desire for glory. But he does highlight their ignorance (“you do not know what you are asking.”). Then he invites them to be champions of true greatness: by drinking not the cup of worldly victory, but his cup of selfgiving suffering love, to be the “slave of all.” The true winners are slaves of love. This week, dare to tell Jesus what your ambitions truly are. Hear him call you to an even greater victory. Father John Muir
