Wednesday
of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary:
232
 |
| Jeremiah |
Reading 1 Jer
18:18-20
The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem
“Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word.”
Heed me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.
“Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word.”
Heed me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.
Responsorial
Psalm Ps
31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R. (17b) Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Gospel Mt
20:17-28
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.”
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.”
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Meditation: "Can
you drink the cup that I am to drink?"
Who or what takes first place in your life? You and what you
want to do with your life or God and what he desires for you? When personal
goals and ambitions are at odds with God's will, whose will prevails? The
prophet Jeremiah spoke a word that was at odds with what the people wanted. The
word which Jeremiah spoke was not his personal opinion but the divinely
inspired word which God commanded him to speak. Jeremiah met stiff opposition
and even threats to his life for speaking God's word. Jeremiah pleaded with God
when others plotted to not only silence him but to destroy him as well. Jesus
also met stiff opposition from those who opposed his authority to speak and act
in God's name. Jesus prophesied that he would be rejected by the religious
authorities in Jerusalem
Jesus called himself the “Son of Man” (Matthew 20:17) – a
prophetic title for the Messiah which came from the Book of Daniel. Daniel was
given a prophetic vision of a "Son of Man" who is given great
authority and power to rule over the earth on behalf of God. But if Jesus is
the Messiah and "Son of Man" prophesied by Daniel, why must he be
rejected and killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One would deliver
his people from their oppression and establish a kingdom of peace and justice?
The prophet Isaiah had foretold that it was God’s will that the “Suffering
Servant” who is "God's Chosen One" (Isaiah 42:1) must first make
atonement for sins through his suffering and death (Isaiah 53:5-12) and then be
raised to establish justice on the earth (Isaiah 42:4). Jesus paid the price
for our redemption with his own blood. Jesus’ life did not end with death on
the cross – he triumphed over the grave when he rose victorious on the third
day. If we want to share in the Lord's victory over sin and death then we will
need to follow his way of the cross by renouncing my will for his will, and my
way for his way of self-sacrificing love and holiness.
Seeking privilege
and power
Right after Jesus had prophesied his impending death on the
cross, the mother of James and John brought her sons before Jesus privately for
a special request. She asked on their behalf for Jesus to grant them a special
status among the disciples, namely to be placed in the highest position of
privilege and power. Rulers placed their second-in-command at their right and
left side. James and John were asking Jesus to place them above their fellow
disciples. Don't we often do the same? We want to get ahead and get the best
position where we can be served first. Jesus responds by telling James and John
that they do not understand what they are really asking for. The only way one
can advance in God's kingdom is by submitting one's whole life in faith and
obedience to God. Jesus surrendered his will to the will of his Father – he
willingly chose the Father's path to glory – a path that would lead to
suffering and death, redemption and new life.
When the other ten disciples heard what James and John had done,
they were very resentful and angry. How unfair for James and John to seek first
place for themselves. Jesus called the twelve together and showed them the true
and rightful purpose for seeking power and position – to serve the good of
others with love and righteousness. Authority without love, a love that is
oriented towards the good of others, easily becomes self-serving and brutish.
Jesus does the unthinkable – he reverses the order and values of the world's
way of thinking. If you want to be great then become a servant for others. If
you want to be first, then became a slave rather than a master. How shocking
and contradictory these words must have rang in the disciples ears and in our
own ears as well! Power and position are tools that can be used to serve and
advance one's own interests or to serve the interests of others. In the ancient
world servants and slaves had no personal choice – they were compeled to serve
the interests of their masters and do whatever they were commanded.
Freedom and servanthood
The model of servanthood which Jesus presents to his disciples
is based on personal choice and freedom – the decision to put others first in
my care and concern and the freedom to serve them with love and compassion
rather than with fear or desire for reward. That is why the Apostle Paul summed
up Jesus' teaching on freedom and love with the exhortation, "For freedom
Christ has set us free... only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for
the flesh [for indulging in sinful and selfish desires], but through love be
servants of one another" (Galatians 5:1,13). Jesus, the Lord and Master,
sets himself as the example. He told his disciples that he "came not to be
served but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). True servanthood is neither demeaning
nor oppressive because its motivating force is love rather than pride or fear.
The Lord Jesus summed up his mission by telling his disciples
that he came "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
The shedding of his blood on the cross was the payment for our sins – a ransom
that sets us free from slavery to wrong and hurful desires and addictions.
Jesus laid down his life for us. This death to self is the key that sets us
free to offer our lives as a sacrifice of thanksgiving and love for the Lord and
for the people he calls us to serve.
The Lord Jesus asks each of us the same question he asked of
James and John – "Can you drink the cup that I am to drink"? The cup
he had in mind was a cup of sacrificial service and death to self – even death
on a cross. What kind of cup might the Lord Jesus have in mind for each one of
us who have chosen to be his followers? For some disciples such a cup will
entail physical suffering and the painful struggle of martyrdom – the readiness
to die for one's faith in Christ. But for many followers of Jesus Christ, it
entails the long routine of the Christian life, with all its daily sacrifices,
disappointments, set-backs, struggles, and temptations. A disciple must be
ready to lay down his or her life in martyrdom for Christ and be ready to lay
it down each and every day in the little and big sacrifices required as well.
An early church father summed up Jesus’ teaching with the expression "to
serve is to reign with Christ". We share in God’s reign by laying down our
lives in humble service of one another as Jesus did for our sake. Are you ready
to lay down your life and to serve others as Jesus did?
"Lord Jesus, make me a servant of love for your kingdom,
that I may seek to serve rather than be served. Inflame my heart with your love
that I may give generously and serve others joyfully for your sake."
 Put God at the Center |
|
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
|
|
Matthew 20:
17-28 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom." 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 chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Introductory Prayer: Lord, though I cannot see you with my eyes, I believe you are present to me now, in my innermost being, and that you know me far better than I know myself. I also know that you love me much more than I love my own self. Thank you for loving and watching over me, though I don’t deserve your love. In return, I offer you my sorrow for my sins and my hopes to love you more each day. Petition: Lord, wean me from dependence on human honors and approval. 1. Seeking the Limelight: James and John rub shoulders with that temptation the devil puts before every apostle: “What’s in it for me, Lord?” We start out our apostolic work with purity of intention, but if we are careless, it soon becomes “purely attention.” That is why we should always be willing to submit our work to the approval of the proper ecclesiastical authorities. Christ steered clear from all power grabs and squabbles. John would alert Christ, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Christ simply replied, “Do not prevent him … for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:38-9). 2. Christ is Never Discouraged: Christ has just told his apostles of his passion, and it weighs heavily on his heart. Drowning in their own fascination for recognition, however, they are completely oblivious to Christ’s sufferings. He doesn’t let himself get discouraged. Rather, he gently helps them to look beyond themselves to follow his lead of self-giving to the point of death. 3. Putting Others First: “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:27). Human recognition is passing; it doesn’t even last a lifetime. Even in heaven human recognition will be useless—our eyes will be fixed on God, not on each other or ourselves. However, we do know by faith that God will reward us in heaven according to our merits. He will exalt us for serving others, especially when we bring others to love and serve him. Am I convinced of this? What ephemeral honors am I hankering after? How can I put Christ and serving him first in my life? Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, too often I compare myself with others. It´s easy for me to find or imagine my superiority. I ignore you and your great goodness. I forget that everything I have comes from you and that I can´t claim credit for any of my qualities and virtues. Help me to keep this truth in mind so I may have an attitude of genuine humility in my heart. Resolution: I will pray a special prayer for humility every day this week. |
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
LENTEN WEEKDAY
MATTHEW 20:17-28
(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Psalm 31)
KEY VERSE: "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant" (v 26).
REFLECTING: Are my motives for Christian service self-serving?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, teach me this Lent to follow your example of humble service.
Save
me, O Lord, in your steadfast love
Sometimes
I wonder, Jesus, about your sense of humour.
Was there a touch of irony in your response to the request from the Zebedee boys’ mother?
It seems a strange mission on her part, coming as it does on the heels of the discussion of your own passion and death. As often, neither she nor your disciples seem to hear or understand you.
Yet your response to her shows nothing of impatience or frustration.
Indeed, it demonstrates your unfailing courtesy and faith, even, in your disciples’ ability to share your mission despite ongoing evidence to the contrary!
I too want to be part of your mission, even if sometimes I fear the suffering and possible death that might go with it. You suggest how—I need only to be prepared to serve.
February 27
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
(1838-1862 )
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
(1838-1862 )
Born in Italy
Ever popular and cheerful, Gabriel quickly was successful in his effort to
be faithful in little things. His spirit of prayer, love for the poor,
consideration of the feelings of others, exact observance of the Passionist
Rule as well as his bodily penances—always subject to the will of his wise
superiors— made a deep impression on everyone. His superiors had great expectations of Gabriel as he prepared for the priesthood, but after only four years of religious life symptoms of tuberculosis appeared. Ever obedient, he patiently bore the painful effects of the disease and the restrictions it required, seeking no special notice. He died peacefully on February 27, 1862, at age 24, having been an example to both young and old.
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was canonized in 1920.
Comment:
When we think of achieving great holiness by doing little things with love and grace, Therese of Lisieux comes first to mind. Like her, Gabriel died painfully from tuberculosis. Together they urge us to tend to the small details of daily life, to be considerate of others’ feelings every day. Our path to sanctity, like theirs, probably lies not in heroic doings but in performing small acts of kindness every day.
When we think of achieving great holiness by doing little things with love and grace, Therese of Lisieux comes first to mind. Like her, Gabriel died painfully from tuberculosis. Together they urge us to tend to the small details of daily life, to be considerate of others’ feelings every day. Our path to sanctity, like theirs, probably lies not in heroic doings but in performing small acts of kindness every day.
Patron Saint of:
Clergy
Clergy
Lectio: Matthew 20,17-28
Lectio:
Wednesday,
February 27, 2013
Lent
Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord
our God,
your
prophets remind us
in
season and out of season
of
our responsibilities toward you
and
toward the world of people.
When
they disturb and upset us,
let
it be a holy disturbance
that
makes us restless, eager to do your will
and
to bring justice and love around us.
We
ask you this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading
Jesus
was going up to Jerusalem , and on the road he
took the Twelve aside by themselves and said to them, 'Look, we are going up to
Jerusalem
Then
the mother of Zebedee's sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and
bowed low; and he said to her, 'What is it you want?' She said to him, 'Promise
that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at
your left in your kingdom.' Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are
asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?' They replied, 'We
can.' He said to them, 'Very well; you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at
my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to
whom they have been allotted by my Father.'
When
the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus
called them to him and said, 'You know that among the gentiles the rulers lord
it over them, and great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to
happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son
of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.'
3) Reflection
•
Today’s Gospel presents three points: the third announcement of the Passion (Mt
20, 17-19), the petition of the Mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt 20, 20-23)
and the discussion of the disciples regarding the first place (Mt 20, 24-28).
•
Matthew 20, 17-19: The third announcement of the Passion. Going toward Jerusalem Jerusalem
•
Matthew 20, 20-21: The petition of the mother to obtain the first place for her
sons. The disciples do not only not understand the importance and significance
of the message of Jesus, but they continue with their own personal ambitions.
When Jesus insists on service and the gift of oneself, they continue to ask for
the first places in the Kingdom. The mother of James and John, taking her sons
with her, gets close to Jesus . The two did not understand the proposal of
Jesus. They were concerned only about their own interests. This is a sign that
the dominating ideology of that time had profoundly penetrated in the mentality
of the disciples. In spite of the fact of having lived with Jesus several
years, they had not renewed their way of seeing things. They looked at Jesus as
always, with the same look. They wanted a reward for the fact of following
Jesus. The same tensions existed in the communities of the time of Matthew and
they still exist today in our own communities.
•
Matthew 20-22-23: Jesus’ answer. Jesus reacts firmly: ”You do not know what you
are asking for!” And he asks if they are capable of drinking the chalice that
he, Jesus, will drink and if they are ready to receive the baptism which he
will receive. It is the chalice of suffering, the baptism of blood! Jesus wants
to know if they, instead of the places of honour, accept to give their life up
to death. Both answer: “We can!” It seems to be a response not given from
within, because a few days later, they abandoned Jesus and left him alone at
the hour of suffering (Mk 14, 50). They do not have a great critical knowledge,
they do not perceive their personal reality. In what concerns the first place,
the place of honour, in the Kingdom at the side of Jesus, the one who grants
this is the Father. What he, Jesus, has to offer, is the chalice and the
baptism, suffering and the cross.
•
Matthew 20, 24-27: It should not be like that among you: Jesus speaks once again,
on the exercise of power (cfr. Mk 9, 33-35). At that time those who held power
did not give an account to people. They acted as they wished (cfr. Mk 6,
27-28). The Roman Empire controlled the world and maintained it submitted with
the force of the arms and in this way, through tributes, taxes, succeeded in
concentrating the riches of the people in the hands of a few in Rome
•
Matthew 20, 28: The summary of the life of Jesus. Jesus defines his mission and
his life: “I have not come to be served but to serve!” He has come to give his
own life for the salvation of many. He is the Messiah Servant, announced by the
Prophet Isaiah (cfr. Is 42, 1-9; 49, 1-6; 50, 4-9); 52, 13-53, 12). He learnt
from his Mother who said: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord!” (Lk 1, 38). A
totally new proposal for the society of that time.
4) Personal questions
•
James and John ask for a favour, Jesus promises suffering. And I, what do I ask
Jesus for in my prayer? How do I accept suffering and the pains and sorrow
which come to me in my life?
•
Jesus said: “It should not be like that among you!” Does my way of living in
community follow this advice of Jesus?
5) Concluding Prayer
Draw
me out of the net they have spread for me,
for
you are my refuge;
to
your hands I commit my spirit,
by
you have I been redeemed. God of truth. (Ps 31,4-5)
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