The election is getting closer and closer. We can feel the tension. People are talking about politics. Which candidates will you support? Who will be the president and vice president for next year? Who will be at the Malacañang next year?

People are talking about authority and fortunately, our Gospel of this week is about authority.

In the Gospel today, James and John asked Jesus, "Grant that in your glory, we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."  James and John asked about “Woooow things.” James and John taught about something amazing, something wonderful, something beautiful, something extravaganza. How wonderful is it to have powerful authority?

That is why then Jesus replied, “Can you drink the cup that I drink?”  For Jesus, sit down in His right of the left is not about the "woow things.” It is about the cross too.  Moreover, Jesus said to them, “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”

A missionary priest is not just about ‘wow things’: living in the capital city, studying in the prestigious school, having an expensive cell phone, working in front of a computer with a stable internet connection, driving a beautiful car, wearing a beautiful sutana, and a lot of followers. However, sometimes it is about a difficult mission too: living in the corner of the world on an island without electricity, without cellphones and computers, without cars and motorcycles, lakad lang. Walking in the forest for hours and hours with the muddy track and sometimes is bitten by linta or leech. And also, “baptized’, you got Malaria. Mama mia!

A father is not about ‘wow things’ too. Having children who always follow his instructions. However, it is about sacrifice: working all day for the family. Sometimes a father and mother have to give up something for their children. Sometimes a father should give up his own hobby. He likes to smoke, but he gives up because his children need a lot of money. He gives up sabong (cockfighting)  because remembers his children and wife. He gives up his hobby to buy a lotto ticket because of his children.

A president, a mayor, Maging Kapitan, Maging Kagawad, a teacher, etc. is not just about a "wow things’’: a lot of people respect and serve him or her, a lot of people need his or her signature, always sit down in the important place, etc. However, it is about service and sacrifice to make his or her people have a good living.

Let us pray so that we use our authority in us according to the will of God.

Amen.