In the three years of His ministry, Jesus' words and deeds portrayed a humble servant up until His death on the cross. However, many people still misunderstood the purpose of His coming among us. By asking favours for her sons, the deepest desire of the mother of Zebedee's sons was to have a bright future for her children. However, she was envisioning positions of power and prestige instead of service and humility. Maybe in our own lives we also frequently confuse happiness with worldly influence, either by accumulating material wealth or trying to earn high positions in social structures. Responding to this tendency, Jesus simply tells us: "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave." It is only by leaving pride and conceit aside that we will gain peace and joy. A life of service and humility may bring pains and sufferings but, as the first reading tells us, it is only when we carry the death of Jesus in our body, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.