In today’s Gospel reading (Mt 20:17-28) the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus: “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” And Jesus replied: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can” and He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink…”

No servant is greater than his master (Jn 15:20), and our Master suffered a most agonizing trial and death – a ‘cup’ (Lk 22:42) to be consumed before the work of salvation could be ‘finished’ (Jn 19:30). Likewise, for us the road to heaven is paved in suffering and sacrifice.

Can you drink the chalice of Our Lord?