Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

First Day of Spring

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 41 The Times for Community Meals
Mass: Jer 18:18-20; Resp Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28


The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.

I noticed something in Jesus' words today. The Gospel begins with Jesus going up to Jerusalem. He took the disciples aside by themselves and said: 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem.' We as in the Lord and the disciples, and us. Jesus is not going to Jerusalem alone. Are we ready to accompany Jesus who asks: 'Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?' Jesus, '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'. Anyone who wishes to be a disciple must drink from the chalice and take up her cross and follow Jesus. We are asked to this each and every day. Our crosses will come in various shapes and sizes: disappointments, aches and pains, lack of fervour in prayer, miscommunication, hurt feelings, anger, being looked over or ignored, feelings of isolation or loneliness, general fatigue, feeling hopeless or a diminished faith. May we help one another carry the crosses presented to us today and be compassionate, merciful, and loving.

It is remarkable that in the Gospel, as far as I remember, Our Lord does not talk about following Him or being His disciples without a reference to the Cross or to the chalice, the symbol of suffering. 
(Basil Hume, Searching for God)

HE WILL BE RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY.

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