I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelves tribes of Israel

 

 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves.  But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelves tribes of Israel."

 

- Luke 22:24-30 

 

Yesterday we read that when the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

 

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves."  My study Bible comments here that this small-minded dispute is out of place in the context of the mysteries that Christ has just revealed (see yesterday's reading, above, in which Christ instituted the Eucharist).  Jesus corrects the disciples by first comparing them to the power-hungry Gentiles, whom they themselves considered an abomination, and He contrasts them to Himself, who serves us even though He is Lord of all.  

 

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelves tribes of Israel."  My study Bible quotes commentary on this passage by St. Ambrose of Milan:  "Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds.  So also the apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith, and in rebuking error with virtue."  A note adds that the apostles will judge not with earthly judgment, but by the witness of their own lives.  Since the kingdom of God begins with the Resurrection of Christ, the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in the journey of the Church on earth (Matthew 16:19, John 20:23).  

Let us take careful note of the events that continue a pattern of temptation and correction, as this is the time of the great temptation of Satan on so many levels, which the Gospel has taken great pains to emphasize.  Luke writes that "the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve" (see Tuesday's reading).  In the understanding of the Church, the clear culprit who works through the weaknesses of envy and greed, in the cases of the religious leadership and Judas, successively, is Satan.  These are not simple plots of human beings, but rather the momentum of evil in spiritual places encourages these actions, seizing on the passions of human beings.  In today's reading, we read about the weakness of the apostles, manifesting itself in an argument over power and place; that is, who would be the greatest.  This is not the only time the disciples are said to have argued over this same question.  See, for example, Mark 9:34, Luke 9:46, Matthew 20:20-21.  So, we can assume this is yet another passion, another weakness, exploited by the spiritual powers of the prince of this world, at this time of great influence of evil.  But Jesus corrects their thinking, and importantly, gives us an understanding of power and how it works in His Kingdom.  "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves."  He points to Himself as the example for all:  "Yet I am among you as the One who serves."   As Christ rebukes with the example of His own virtue, so the disciples are being shaped to do the same, and through this example in the Gospel, so we are being taught as well.  Importantly, there's a deeper lesson here, about how to counter spiritual evil.  Our job is to be vigilant, to watch and pray, and to exercise the kind of discernment that Christ teaches, which is one that judges by the heart and not the actions.  In our own practice of virtue is the greatest weapon against the spiritual powers of evil; our perseverance in faith and endurance through all things is what we have been taught is our rule through tribulation of all kinds.  In Romans 12:20-21, St. Paul quotes from Proverbs 25:21-22:  "Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.'  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  While a modern perspective may understand this merely as a moral teaching, it is actually a very profound spiritual practice.  Similarly to prayer, acts that we do with real faith have greater effects than we can frequently discern.  Jesus says, "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward" (Mark 9:41), and, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me" (Mark 9:37).  These statements describe spiritual realities we cannot fully grasp, but which are nevertheless true and real.  Let us follow Christ and understand that as He goes to the Cross in this time of evil, He engages in what is, in fact, the most profound act of spiritual warfare, and the supreme example for us all.  In another profound promise, the fullness of which we cannot imagine, He bestows a kingdom upon His apostles, who have continued with Him in His trials.  Let us follow as well.