We hear of Jesus’ enthronement in the readings for this Sunday, but we hear as well of his suffering. Interestingly, the two go together.

"The church must be missionary.” So says the Catechism (n. 851) in a terse echo of the Great Commission of Jesus: Go and make disciples of all nations. We’re reminded on this World Mission Sunday that church isn’t primarily a place where we come to pray, or even a happy assembly of the already convinced.

James and John came up to Jesus. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us. Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”

Jim Heskett of Harvard Business School writes that in 2013 he attended a board meeting at ServiceMaster, a major corporation that sells cleaning materials and services. Heskett recalls that ServiceMaster CEO, William Pollard, spilled a cup of coffee prior to the start of the board meeting.

Scripture today will speak of approaching the throne of God not in fear but confidently to receive mercy and find grace. With that hope we turn to God to ask forgiveness.

“Can you drink the cup that I drink?” True power: James and John think it comes from status—how close you are to the head of the table. They are like those who lord it over others or think they can save themselves.

I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings. —Margaret Mead