James and John asked Jesus if they could be intimate sharers in His glory. They wanted to sit at Jesus' right and left when He mounted His throne as He came into His glorious reign. James and John didn't understand that Jesus' kingly throne was His cross. When Jesus came into His glory on the cross of crucifixion, His inaugural banner read: "Jesus the Nazorean the King of the Jews" (Jn 19:19). Who received the honor of being at Jesus' right and left when He entered into His kingly glory? Two crucified criminals were His courtiers, "one at His right and one at His left" (Mk 15:27).
Like the two crucified next to Jesus, we also are sinners. Yet Jesus likewise invites us to be intimate sharers of His kingly glory. He calls us to pick up our cross each day, die to ourselves (Lk 9:23), and be crucified to the world (Gal 6:14). We are crucified with Christ, and the life we live is not our own; King Jesus is living in us and sharing His glory with us (Gal 2:19-20). His glory so consumes us that we know nothing but King Jesus crucified (1 Cor 2:2, RNAB).
The daily cross is excruciating, but always remember what Jesus promised the one who was crucified next to Him: "When you share My crucified glory for love of Me, this day you will be with Me in paradise" (see Lk 23:43).
| PRAYER: | King Jesus, as I share Your crucifixion each day, I pray: "remember me when You enter upon Your reign" (Lk 23:42). |
| PROMISE: | "The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve – to give His life in ransom for the many." –Mk 10:45 |
| PRAISE: | Bearing graciously the daily cross of a chronic illness, Fred was a true inspiration to his family, who alone knew how great his sufferings could be. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College