Jesus said to the mother of the sons of Zebedee, “What do you wish?” She replied, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21) Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my father.” (Matthew 20:22-23) Jesus’ reply was entirely different from his response to the request by one of the criminals who was crucified with him. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Why was there a difference? It was because the former sought personal glorification while the latter was based on personal repentance. Nevertheless, Jesus still showed appreciation of the two brothers, James and John. The two of them, together with Peter, witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jairus’s daughter and the Agony in the Gethsemane Garden. It was because their love for Jesus was so great that James became the first martyr among the apostles and John became the protector of the Holy Mother. God is forever the God of love and mercy!