A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

Wednesday of the eighth week in ordinary time.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments,

surrender all the cares and concerns of the stay Jesus, I trust in you. You take over. Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark, chapter 10, verses 32 through 45.

The disciples were on the road going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking on ahead of them.

They were in a daze and those who followed were apprehensive.

Once more, taking the twelve aside, he began to tell them what

was going to happen to him. Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be

handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will hand him over

to the pagans who will mock him, and at him and scourge him and put him to

death and after three days he will rise again. James and John the sons of Zebedee approached him.

Master, they said to him, we want you to do us a favor. He said to them, What is it you want me to do for you?

They said to him,

Allow us to sit, one at your right hand,

and the other at your left in your glory.

You do not know what you are asking, Jesus said to them.

Can you drink the cup I must drink,

or be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized.

They replied, we can. Jesus said to them, the cup that I must drink, you shall drink,

and with the baptism of which I must be baptized, you shall be baptized. But as for seats at my right or my left hand, those are not mine to grant.

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