Daily Readings - Wed Mar 11 2020
Jeremiah
18And they said: "Come, and let us devise a plan against Jeremiah. For the law will not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor a sermon from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us pay no attention to any of his words.19Attend to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries20Should evil be rendered for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul! Remember that I have stood in your sight, so as to speak on their behalf for good, and to avert your indignation from them
Matthew
17And Jesus, ascending to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside in private and said to them18"Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be handed over to the leaders of the priests and to the scribes. And they shall condemn him to death19And they shall hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified. And on the third day, he shall rise again.20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him, with her sons, adoring him, and petitioning something from him21And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these, my two sons, may sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.22But Jesus, responding, said: "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the chalice, from which I will drink?" They said to him, "We are able.23He said to them: "From my chalice, indeed, you shall drink. But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to give to you, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.24And the ten, upon hearing this, became indignant with the two brothers25But Jesus called them to himself and said: "You know that the first ones among the Gentiles are their rulers, and that those who are greater exercise power among them26It shall not be this way among you. But whoever will want to be greater among you, let him be your minister27And whoever will want to be first among you, he shall be your servant28even as the Son of man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a redemption for many.
Sermon
The readings today present us with powerful reflections on trust, service, and the true nature of leadership. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet faces opposition and betrayal from his own people, who conspire against him because of his unwavering commitment to God’s message. Jeremiah’s trust in the Lord is evident, even in the face of evil intentions. He knows that God sees all and will judge justly. This passage reminds us that standing up for what is right can sometimes lead to persecution, but our ultimate hope and trust must remain in God, who is always faithful.
In the Gospel, Jesus once again predicts His passion and death, revealing the depth of His self-giving love. When the mother of James and John asks for places of honor for her sons, Jesus uses the opportunity to teach His disciples about the true meaning of greatness. He explains that in the Kingdom of God, leadership is not about power or prestige but about serving others. This is a radical departure from the way the world operates, where authority often means domination. Jesus’ words challenge us to re-examine our motivations and ambitions, inviting us to embrace humility and selflessness in our relationships and actions.
Both readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice encourages us to remain steadfast, even when faced with adversity. Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership reminds us that true greatness lies in serving others. As we go about our lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan, even when things seem unfair? Am I seeking to serve others rather than seeking my own interests? May we learn to surrender our ambitions to God’s will and follow Jesus’ example of humble service. In doing so, we will find true fulfillment and live as authentic disciples of Christ.