Command that these two sons of mine sit one at your right and the other at your left when you finally take possession of your Kingdom. Now before we go hurling stones at this mother who just wanted what was best for her two sons who had left everything in order to follow Jesus, let us pause and ask ourselves these questions: Isn't her request on behalf of her sons a reflection of the very things that is in our own hearts? Isn't sitting at the right hand of Jesus the sole desire of our hearts? Who would not jostle for the seats closest to Jesus if the chance was offered? 
The account of the request of the mother of the Zebedee brothers immediately follows the third prediction of the passion by Jesus. Jesus made the third prediction as he and the twelve were nearing Jerusalem. The two disciples must have shared with their mother about the two previous predictions, how Jesus was probably entering Jerusalem for the last time, and that he was going to be killed. They must have come also to accept the fact that Jesus was not going to lead a military coup against the Romans. And so, perhaps as a consolation to this family who had given two sons to Jesus to accompany him, the mother approached Jesus to see if he would do the family this one favor. What mother wouldn't want the best for her children or her family? 
Did the two sons and their mother understand what Jesus' mission was all about? Did they have the slightest understanding of what discipleship is all about? They probably did. They probably understood it better than we give them credit. "We can drink of your chalice," was the response of two brothers when Jesus asked about their readiness to follow Jesus into his passion. And indeed they did later drink of Jesus' chalice. 
The two sons and their mother were thinking in human terms, as we all do. They were ready to give their all for the sake of the cause, but only on the condition that it would not be in vain. They were ready to die with Jesus, but they had to be assured that they will be rewarded in the next life. Their  humanness had prevented them from hearing the words of Jesus regarding their identity as his partners: "we are useless servants; we have done no more than our duty" (cf. Luke 17:10). They were yet to understand the concept of being called to service. 
What is in it for me? We always pose such a question whenever we are approached with a request for help. We always want to know if we will get rewarded in any way for our efforts. The two sons and their mother were thinking along these very lines. However, Jesus reminded them (and us) that ours is mere service, that discipleship is not about preferential treatment or being promised better things. A servant must honor the terms of the contract signed and should not expect the master to act outside the parameters of the contract. There are no strings attached when it comes to following Jesus. A follower of Jesus has literally given his/her life to Jesus and does not expect it back. The two sons and their mother wanted their lives back. They were yet to understand fully what discipleship entails. 
May our Lenten reflection help us come to terms with what discipleship entails so that we can fruitfully live our identity. Amen.