Jeremiah
18:18-20 / Matthew 20:17-28
Jesus talks about greatness: “The greatest is the one
who serves.”
Jesus
turns the world’s value system upside down. He measures a person’s greatness very
differently from the way the world does. The world measures personal greatness
by the number of people one controls, by the number of degrees one holds, by
the number of committees one chairs. Jesus considers such numbers to be
irrelevant. For Jesus there’s only one set of numbers that has any value, and
that is the number of people one helps. Service is the thing that counts with
Jesus: a nurse’s service to patients, a pastor’s service to parishioners, a parent’s
service to children.
****
Whose
value system do we tend to follow in the practical order? “Before the Christian
goes to church, let him visit the hospital. Before he reads the Bible, let the
Christian help the beggar.” (Toyohiko
Kagawa)
****
Whenever we think
about the Old Testament prophets, we may have this image of a fearless preacher
of the Word of God, a rough-cut person dressed in animal skin and leading an
ascetic life, much like John the Baptist.
Yet in the 1st reading, we see the very human side of the prophet Jeremiah as he faced his trials and tribulations of being a prophet of God. Jeremiah was a gentle and peaceful person, but he found himself in trouble for his prophetic words. Quite unable to handle the persecution, he laments to God. In all this, we see the very human side of the prophet Jeremiah.
In the gospel, we also saw the very human side of the apostles. Jesus told them about his impending suffering and death. And yet, they seem to have other things in mind, other worldly things. Our human side also succumb to the distractions of the worldly and we too forget about what Jesus came for. One of the prayer forms for the season of Lent is to take the crucifix and to just hold it in our hands during prayer.
The cross will remind us of why Jesus came and what our hearts should be focused upon. May the cross of Christ also protect us from evil and give us strength in our trials.
Yet in the 1st reading, we see the very human side of the prophet Jeremiah as he faced his trials and tribulations of being a prophet of God. Jeremiah was a gentle and peaceful person, but he found himself in trouble for his prophetic words. Quite unable to handle the persecution, he laments to God. In all this, we see the very human side of the prophet Jeremiah.
In the gospel, we also saw the very human side of the apostles. Jesus told them about his impending suffering and death. And yet, they seem to have other things in mind, other worldly things. Our human side also succumb to the distractions of the worldly and we too forget about what Jesus came for. One of the prayer forms for the season of Lent is to take the crucifix and to just hold it in our hands during prayer.
The cross will remind us of why Jesus came and what our hearts should be focused upon. May the cross of Christ also protect us from evil and give us strength in our trials.
****
Lent
2nd Week, Wed - Liturgy
Introduction
A prophet
is always an annoying person. His mission is to call attention to the signs of
the times – to denounce what no one dares denounce, to prod into action when
all stand still and like to take it easy. His task is unpleasant and he carries
it out reluctantly. For he is a scared man. He pleads to be excused. For he
always gets into trouble. He may even be killed. That was the lot of the
prophets before him and then Jesus’ lot – but through his death he won glory
and brought life. Those who follow him, however timid they may be as prophets,
have to share in this suffering-toward-life. They must at least learn to serve;
even dedicated service brings often suffering.
Penitential Rite:
-
When people plot against us as they did to the prophets and we shall learn
to rely on the Lord
-
Even as our enemies dig a pit for us to fall, we shall not pay them with
evil
-
As you call us not for positions but to serve and not to be served
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.
General Intercession
– For the Church, that it may
imitate the Lord Jesus and be a serving Church, we pray:
– For prophets who remind us
that we have to live up to our faith, that we may listen to them, we pray:
– For all of us, that as
followers of a suffering Lord, we may grow as Christians and as human beings by
the way we carry our crosses, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, your Son comes among us and asks
us: “Can you drink my cup with me?” Give us the strength to accept any
suffering with him for the sake of your kingdom, for we know it is the
signature on the life of the true disciple. May it be a suffering that brings
life to us and to our brothers and sisters. This is the offering we make to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
went his journey to the cross knowing what awaited him, but also knowing that
his suffering and death would mean life and joy for many. Give us a bit of his
courage, Lord, that we may not be escapists in life, but that we may speak out
and act when your kingdom is at stake or when we are asked to serve. Let your
Son be with us, now and forever.
