Achieve the goal – heaven.

It is normal and natural that parents try to provide their children with the best possible. Or that a person who loves someone can do anything for him – even the impossible.

We see something similar in God’s word today when the mother of Zebedee’s sons goes to Jesus and says to him: “Tell these two sons of mine to sit in your kingdom, one at your right hand and the other at your left.” (Mt. 20:21b).
Indeed, as we read in today’s Gospel, the mother of Zebedee’s sons – Salome, attempted the impossible, making a minor stir among the apostles. Salome was a simple religious woman who, along with other women, accompanied Jesus and supported him materially. She was a mother and loved her sons. And understandably, she wanted the best for her sons. But Jesus did not grant her request. He couldn’t even fulfill it because, as he says, being seated at his right or left does not belong to him.

Why am I saying all this? I want to point out the love of this woman. Salome asked the impossible, perhaps without even realizing it herself. But she was a mother, and she loved her children; she wanted the best for them. She couldn’t have asked for more. Sitting on the right or the left is an image of supreme rank and power. Salome wanted them to sit in the kingdom of God.

And this is what we should strive for as well. Therefore, let us take an example from God’s Word today from this woman. Let us pray to God for our parents, daughters, sons that one day we may meet them in the kingdom of God. Let us do our best to reach heaven, even if it costs us a lot of effort. But, after all, “What costs nothing is worth nothing.” Therefore, let us have courage. You know best for yourselves how much effort it costs to achieve something good and worthwhile in life. How many times do you have to put yourself entirely wholeheartedly into the action and give your best?

And often, what Salome, the mother of Zebedee’s sons, experienced also happens: it just doesn’t work out. And even then, don’t lose hope and courage. Try to do everything you can to reach your goal. And not just the mundane temporary, but the eternal imperishable. Let us do our utmost every day so that one day we may seek a place with our Heavenly Father. And let us also help our loved ones in this endeavor. After all, we certainly care about them and want the best for them. And this is the best. For this, we will one day be grateful to our parents and friends.

Before his death, the Rev. Neal Scott wrote a message to his parents thanking them for opening the gateway to life for him and lead him down the path to eternal life rather than eternal death.

Let us strive to live in such a way that one day we, too, may sit with those we love in the kingdom of heaven in the presence of God.