Every spring, I teach an elective course within our Master of Science degree program in Integrative Health and Wellness called “Wholism as a Guiding Principle for Leadership and Well-Being.” Over the past couple of weeks, we have been discussing the topic of life purpose. In other words, my students were asked to reflect on the question, “How do I know what is mine to do?” Something Jesus said within today’s reading from Matthew struck me as being very appropriate for the recent discussions we have been having in class. And I feel like we can learn a lot about what is ours to do from the response that Jesus gave to the women in the story.

When Jesus was approached by the mother of the sons of Zebedee, she asked that Jesus command her two sons to sit on either side of Jesus in his kingdom. In his response to the woman, Jesus says to her, “…this is not mine to give…” but rather is something for “my Father” to give. Jesus had clarity on what was his to do. It wasn’t to grant entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven but rather to show us by doing what was his to do. In fact, he goes on to further explain this by taking his disciples aside to go deeper into what he meant. He says to them, “…whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” In other words, the path of self-emptying was theirs to do just as it was his. It seems that Jesus was making a point that “the Son of Man” is going to be handed over and put to death, as if he was saying, “This is what is mine to do, and each of you also needs to find what is yours to do as well.” As he said, “Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

One of my favorite theologians and writers is Sister Ilia Delio. In one of her recent books called, “Birth of a Dancing Star,” she helps us with the important questions we have about our life purpose. In one part of the book (pg. 211), she says, “I have a mission because every person has a mission – to be the truth of who they are so that God can be God in them.” Discerning what is ours to do is a big, wonderful, personal, and patient process. And I think that knowing that Jesus was there to guide his disciples through this process means that he is there for us in our discernment as well. As we continue through our Lenten journey, perhaps self-emptying in whatever forms that takes and allowing God to be God in us will provide some clarity on what is ours to do.